May 20, 1997
Originally published by The Final Cut (DINFOS--Defense Information School, Ft. George G. Meade, MD)
The University of Florida Gators swept through the ranks of college football last season, winning the first national championship in school history. They not only established themselves as a powerhouse, but also, validated head coach Steve Spurrier's commitment to success on the gridiron as both a coach and a player.
Long ago, a teammate of Spurrier's saw this coming. In 1963, in fact.
That was the year that Lt. Col. Doug Wilkinson, a reserve advisor at the Defense Information School, played with Spurrier on the Gators' freshman football team. Wilkinson played only two years alongside Spurrier in college, but was so awed by his take-charge attitude toward the game that he says he still uses much of the same values today in his life.
"We didn't socialize much," Wilkinson says, who graduated from UF with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1967. "I knew him from practices, games and such, but it was enough."
Wilkinson, who came here in January, credits Spurrier for instilling in him the desire to win. "I tell you, he doesn't do his job as a coach halfway, and neither do I," he says.
Spurrier, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 as the nation's top quarterback, always gave it everything he had, Wilkinson says.
"He is a highly competitive individual who never goes half-speed on anything," Wilkinson said. "I never saw him let up on anything in the time I knew him."
Wilkinson, 52, remembers fondly the time Spurrier broke his nose in a 'light' practice scrimmage.
"We weren't supposed to knock each other's brains out, and we were supposed to take it easy that day," Wilkinson said. "But of course, Steve was going full speed. He didn't care if we had a game to rest for or not. He ran a play and then blocked me full in the face. He socked me right in the jaw, too."
After winning the Heisman his senior season, Spurrier spent time in the NFL as a backup quarterback and punter with the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His playing career ended after the 1976 season, when Tampa Bay released him.
Though Spurrier's career in the pros was less than sensational, he still displayed a great work ethic, Wilkinson says. He recalls the 1972 season, when Spurrier stepped in for an injured John Brodie and helped the 49ers win a divisional title. "He didn't have the greatest career in the books, but he was always ready to win and was extremely coachable," Wilkinson says. "What happened to Steve was the simple fact that a lot of college quarterbacks are not trained properly for the pro system."
Wilkinson also notes that the disappointing careers of Gino Torretta, Andre Ware, and most other Heisman-winning quarterbacks are not by accident. He says that they tend to struggle in the pros because of the radical differences between college and pro offenses and that Danny Wuerffel, the Gator quarterback who won the Heisman last season, might well follow the same path.
"I don't think Danny will have that great a career either, unless a team wants to take a chance on him," Wilkinson says. "But most NFL teams don't want to take risks."
Wilkinson, meanwhile, played one more season with the Gators before giving up football to pursue his studies. He was also a punter besides a running back and says that Spurrier may have had something to do with his short college career.
"I was a walk-on player in both '63 and '64," says Wilkinson, who grew up in Tampa, Fla. "As a walk-on not recruited by the coach, it was tough to get playing time. I was in the running for the punting job, but damned it Steve didn't beat me out."
After graduation, Wilkinson used the same drive he learned from football in entering the Army. He enlisted in 1968 and volunteered for infantry duty. Graduating from Officer Candidate School, he was sent to Vietnam one year later.
"It was purely political," Wilkinson said of his decision to enlist in the service at the height of the turbulence sweeping America over the involvement in Vietnam.
Wilkinson notes that the Army is in better shape than ever as a result of the dramatic change in the typical recruit since the late 1960s.
"Before 1975, it was a draft Army," Wilkinson says. "People were getting yanked out of their homes and schools and getting drafted left and right. Some had to pick between this or jail. Today, it's a volunteer service, and the Army is better for it. People are here because they want to be, not because they have to.
"It's no big deal to quit a football team, but quitting the military is another story. You're expected to make the commitment," Wilkinson adds.
Wilkinson spent 1969 and 1970 in Vietnam as a combat adviser. He spent a good portion of the time in his share of the line of fire, he adds.
"You can't lead unless you know how to follow," says Wilkinson, who left the Army in 1972 as a captain.
In the intervening years before his return to the National Guard in 1985, Wilkinson earned his master's degree in public management and a graduation certificate in American studies. He returned to active duty in 1991.
While Wilkinson says the violence he experienced in football was trivial compared to the harshness of war, he added that he did get an inner strength from playing that prepared him for combat.
"When I was over there in Vietnam, when times got tough, I just rolled with the punches. It was an automatic response," he says.
Wilkinson now saves his blood, sweat and tears for his job at DINFOS. As the only Reserve on the staff, his duties are to keep abreast of reserve students' issues and concerns. "I love my job, and I like dealing with the students," he says. Wilkinson is also coordinator of the reserve courses for officers, such as the Public Affairs Officer Course. "We usually get about 40 officers from all branches of the service in that course," he says.
"My biggest job, though, is to help the reservists in all the courses who may have troubles or problems back at home or any questions. That's what I'm here for," Wilkinson says.
"I don't mean to equate football with the military. There really is no comparison," he said. "But I would encourage young people to give athletics a try. The lessons they learn from football or any other team sport will definitely help them later in life."
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Magic's gone in L.A.
Spring 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The Los Angeles Lakers are dead--officially.
The Lakers, for so many years the renowned juggernaut of the NBA, have no more heart to continue their reign. Magic Johnson as much said so when he declined to return as the Lakers' coach for next season.
Johnson, who was a dominant player for over a decade along with Boston Celtic Larry Bird, came in when the league needed him most. In many ways he helped turn around the league.
His presence alone would turn his teammates into selfless individuals with a burning desire to win the next game, nothing more and nothing less.
But the work ethic and tireless hustle which Magic used to put his stamp on Laker basketball doesn't work in today's world of big-money contracts and guaranteed salaries.
Johnson said that a lack of discipline and enthusiasm among the team was a big reason why he won't come back as L.A.'s skipper next season.
Los Angeles had reached the playoffs for 17 consecutive seasons before bowing out of the postseason race with a loss to Portland on Friday night.
"I found out a lot about this team, a lot about individuals," Johnson said upon releasing his stepping down statement. "And you can see why we are where we are."
Back when Magic was running the show, a miscue by say, Byron Scott or A.C. Green simply wouldn't be tolerated. Now the Lakers have talent that mostly has gone to hell in a handbasket.
That notion is further underlined when people like Elden Campbell and Vlade Divac seem to just coast along from game to game, occasionally showing brilliance but little else, which is exactly the state that the Lakers are in right now.
What they are doing is resting on reputation, living off the name of L.A. Lakers alone, getting a bit too comfortable with their feet propped up.
As long as Johnson had the desire, he could have instantly turned the Lakers into a 50-plus game-winning team. In a sense, Magic is the Lakers. In a way. he helped build the franchise by guiding it to five world championships in a decade.
The old Lakers, the dynasty version, would turn over in their graves if they were to witness the heresy going on in their kingdom: sloppy play, poor execution, and worse, making excuses and throwing in the towel when things aren't looking too good.
That's about all they did down the stretch this season. Which is why, come May, they'll be watching the NBA on TV or chipping bogeys at the golf course or whatever it is that losing teams do while waiting for the lottery games to begin.
With the old Lakers, you lived by example. You competed to win not just becase you wanted the money, or the accolades. You did it because the team wanted it.
But even Magic couldn't inject desire and determination into the new Lakers, which can't hold a candle to their predecessors. The Lakers' fall from grace and their abandoned commitment is the story of the NBA this year, not Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets' resurgence or the Sonics pulling the best record in the league or the fact that the Knicks have their best chance to win a championship since 1973.
There undoubtedly were questions over whether Johnson's health was a factor in his decision to resign after the season. But he is still showing no effects despite being diagnosed with the HIV virus back in 1991.
The indictment, then, is not whether Magic was strong enough to lead the Lakers, but that maybe the Lakers weren't strong enough for Magic.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The Los Angeles Lakers are dead--officially.
The Lakers, for so many years the renowned juggernaut of the NBA, have no more heart to continue their reign. Magic Johnson as much said so when he declined to return as the Lakers' coach for next season.
Johnson, who was a dominant player for over a decade along with Boston Celtic Larry Bird, came in when the league needed him most. In many ways he helped turn around the league.
His presence alone would turn his teammates into selfless individuals with a burning desire to win the next game, nothing more and nothing less.
But the work ethic and tireless hustle which Magic used to put his stamp on Laker basketball doesn't work in today's world of big-money contracts and guaranteed salaries.
Johnson said that a lack of discipline and enthusiasm among the team was a big reason why he won't come back as L.A.'s skipper next season.
Los Angeles had reached the playoffs for 17 consecutive seasons before bowing out of the postseason race with a loss to Portland on Friday night.
"I found out a lot about this team, a lot about individuals," Johnson said upon releasing his stepping down statement. "And you can see why we are where we are."
Back when Magic was running the show, a miscue by say, Byron Scott or A.C. Green simply wouldn't be tolerated. Now the Lakers have talent that mostly has gone to hell in a handbasket.
That notion is further underlined when people like Elden Campbell and Vlade Divac seem to just coast along from game to game, occasionally showing brilliance but little else, which is exactly the state that the Lakers are in right now.
What they are doing is resting on reputation, living off the name of L.A. Lakers alone, getting a bit too comfortable with their feet propped up.
As long as Johnson had the desire, he could have instantly turned the Lakers into a 50-plus game-winning team. In a sense, Magic is the Lakers. In a way. he helped build the franchise by guiding it to five world championships in a decade.
The old Lakers, the dynasty version, would turn over in their graves if they were to witness the heresy going on in their kingdom: sloppy play, poor execution, and worse, making excuses and throwing in the towel when things aren't looking too good.
That's about all they did down the stretch this season. Which is why, come May, they'll be watching the NBA on TV or chipping bogeys at the golf course or whatever it is that losing teams do while waiting for the lottery games to begin.
With the old Lakers, you lived by example. You competed to win not just becase you wanted the money, or the accolades. You did it because the team wanted it.
But even Magic couldn't inject desire and determination into the new Lakers, which can't hold a candle to their predecessors. The Lakers' fall from grace and their abandoned commitment is the story of the NBA this year, not Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets' resurgence or the Sonics pulling the best record in the league or the fact that the Knicks have their best chance to win a championship since 1973.
There undoubtedly were questions over whether Johnson's health was a factor in his decision to resign after the season. But he is still showing no effects despite being diagnosed with the HIV virus back in 1991.
The indictment, then, is not whether Magic was strong enough to lead the Lakers, but that maybe the Lakers weren't strong enough for Magic.
Behn leads new pitching era at FSU
April 12, 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
There are two things you can count on: the Dodgers and Giants will cut each other's throat in the pennant races every season and the Bulldog pitching staff will consistently mop things up.
Suddenly, the usually pitching-rich Bulldog baseball team faces uncertainties this season as FSU's hurlers have had to rebound from losing their entire starting rotating from 1993.
Gone are Steve Soderstrom, picked in the June draft by the Giants, Mike Salazar and Mark Cruise. Those three combined for 26 of FSU's 44 wins last season.
In are such names as Jared Fernandez, Tommy Minor and Brendan Behn. Behn, a freshman, has won over the coaching staff with his surprising poise and accuracy.
He has improved quickly in his rookie Bulldog season and FSU must look to their younger players to become even more solid if the Bulldogs are to avoid being on the beach come late May for the first time since 1987.
Going into 1994, only two of the Bulldog pitches had significant game experience and those two combined for a total of 145 innings in 1993.
"In a winning ball club, pitching is always the deciding factor," head coach Bob Bennett said. "We basically lost the starting staff from 1993 and a lot of our success has had to depend on our new talent on the pitching staff."
Behn, a product of Merced High School, was signed by FSU on the strength of his solid senior season in which he posted a 6-2 record and a 1.79 earned run average. He also hit at a .430 clip at the plate with 34 runs batted in.
"I split time between the mound and first base," Behn said, adding that switching to full time pitching has helped him improve at FSU.
BYU nearly signed the prospect, but instead Behn chose to be a Bulldog, "based on the program's reputation and being close to home," he said.
Behn lettered twice in baseball at Merced and was captain of his team as a senior. In two years, he was on a team that went a combined 37-23.
The freshman also earned first team All-Central California Conference honors in his final season.
Behn is currently 2-3 with a 2.96 earned run average with 39 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings of work.
With such impressive numbers as just a freshman, there's little doubt that the Bulldogs will have a strong go-to guy in Behn on the mound for many years to come.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
There are two things you can count on: the Dodgers and Giants will cut each other's throat in the pennant races every season and the Bulldog pitching staff will consistently mop things up.
Suddenly, the usually pitching-rich Bulldog baseball team faces uncertainties this season as FSU's hurlers have had to rebound from losing their entire starting rotating from 1993.
Gone are Steve Soderstrom, picked in the June draft by the Giants, Mike Salazar and Mark Cruise. Those three combined for 26 of FSU's 44 wins last season.
In are such names as Jared Fernandez, Tommy Minor and Brendan Behn. Behn, a freshman, has won over the coaching staff with his surprising poise and accuracy.
He has improved quickly in his rookie Bulldog season and FSU must look to their younger players to become even more solid if the Bulldogs are to avoid being on the beach come late May for the first time since 1987.
Going into 1994, only two of the Bulldog pitches had significant game experience and those two combined for a total of 145 innings in 1993.
"In a winning ball club, pitching is always the deciding factor," head coach Bob Bennett said. "We basically lost the starting staff from 1993 and a lot of our success has had to depend on our new talent on the pitching staff."
Behn, a product of Merced High School, was signed by FSU on the strength of his solid senior season in which he posted a 6-2 record and a 1.79 earned run average. He also hit at a .430 clip at the plate with 34 runs batted in.
"I split time between the mound and first base," Behn said, adding that switching to full time pitching has helped him improve at FSU.
BYU nearly signed the prospect, but instead Behn chose to be a Bulldog, "based on the program's reputation and being close to home," he said.
Behn lettered twice in baseball at Merced and was captain of his team as a senior. In two years, he was on a team that went a combined 37-23.
The freshman also earned first team All-Central California Conference honors in his final season.
Behn is currently 2-3 with a 2.96 earned run average with 39 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings of work.
With such impressive numbers as just a freshman, there's little doubt that the Bulldogs will have a strong go-to guy in Behn on the mound for many years to come.
Abas wants NCAA title in the worst way
Spring 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Gerry Abas is back in the national title hunt, but this time that won't do--unless he comes home on top.
The Fresno State wrestling standout finished runner-up in the NCAA Championship last season by a mere two points. Abas is back for more and is pointing at a national title more than ever.
Nothing less than a title will do, and certainly not second-best again, the junior from Oakland said.
"It's been my motivation all season," Abas said. "This has been the goal all my life--to be on top. Since I began wrestling, I've always looked to get better every season."
By finishing second-best in the country last year at the 142-pound spot, Abas figures to carry on his career tradition and take it a step further to finish as the national champion.
Missing out again this year "would be a major disappointment," Abas said.
"It sure won't rank as high as other tough losses, but it'll be right up there," Abas said.
Abas and the 13th ranked Bulldogs are going for an NCAA title today at the Dean Smith Center at the University of North Carolina, otherwise known as the "Dean Dome."
The 'Dogs will have seven wrestlers participating. Last season, FSU had the best finish in school history, placing eighth in the NCAA's. Abas and senior Terry Watts at 150 pounds are the only two grapplers returning from a season ago.
Abas and company got ready for another NCAA try by rolling to a second straight WAC title. Ranked second nationally at 142, he took home his second straight WAC title by turning in two big wins.
He turned back BYU's Greg Schroeder 23-10 in the semifinals and took Air Force's Jeff Dalyrimple 17-6.
It all added up to Abas being named the WAC's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Abas finished the regular season with an impressive 28-3 record. That includes a 14-match winning streak, which is still going strong. But what may be most impressive is that he hasn't lost two matches in a row all season.
"He has been real good in both his sophomore and junior years," said head coach Dennis DeLiddo. But Abas will try to reach a new level by winning it all.
"That's one of my biggest goals since I came here," Abas said.
Abas' other feats this past season have been going 14-0 in the dual meet season, being third on the Bulldogs with 56 points, and owning a 14-3 record in tournament play.
He is also 2-1 against ranked opponents and 6-0 against his WAC foes.
A strength this years for FSU was having Abas and Watts back, DeLiddo said. This year's Bulldog team made the NCAA's despite the lack of experience they had a season ago. Last year, the 'Dogs had their best team ever, DeLiddo added.
"It was the best season I've ever coached here, what with winning the WAC Championship, coming in strong at NCAA's and having three All-Americans."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Gerry Abas is back in the national title hunt, but this time that won't do--unless he comes home on top.
The Fresno State wrestling standout finished runner-up in the NCAA Championship last season by a mere two points. Abas is back for more and is pointing at a national title more than ever.
Nothing less than a title will do, and certainly not second-best again, the junior from Oakland said.
"It's been my motivation all season," Abas said. "This has been the goal all my life--to be on top. Since I began wrestling, I've always looked to get better every season."
By finishing second-best in the country last year at the 142-pound spot, Abas figures to carry on his career tradition and take it a step further to finish as the national champion.
Missing out again this year "would be a major disappointment," Abas said.
"It sure won't rank as high as other tough losses, but it'll be right up there," Abas said.
Abas and the 13th ranked Bulldogs are going for an NCAA title today at the Dean Smith Center at the University of North Carolina, otherwise known as the "Dean Dome."
The 'Dogs will have seven wrestlers participating. Last season, FSU had the best finish in school history, placing eighth in the NCAA's. Abas and senior Terry Watts at 150 pounds are the only two grapplers returning from a season ago.
Abas and company got ready for another NCAA try by rolling to a second straight WAC title. Ranked second nationally at 142, he took home his second straight WAC title by turning in two big wins.
He turned back BYU's Greg Schroeder 23-10 in the semifinals and took Air Force's Jeff Dalyrimple 17-6.
It all added up to Abas being named the WAC's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Abas finished the regular season with an impressive 28-3 record. That includes a 14-match winning streak, which is still going strong. But what may be most impressive is that he hasn't lost two matches in a row all season.
"He has been real good in both his sophomore and junior years," said head coach Dennis DeLiddo. But Abas will try to reach a new level by winning it all.
"That's one of my biggest goals since I came here," Abas said.
Abas' other feats this past season have been going 14-0 in the dual meet season, being third on the Bulldogs with 56 points, and owning a 14-3 record in tournament play.
He is also 2-1 against ranked opponents and 6-0 against his WAC foes.
A strength this years for FSU was having Abas and Watts back, DeLiddo said. This year's Bulldog team made the NCAA's despite the lack of experience they had a season ago. Last year, the 'Dogs had their best team ever, DeLiddo added.
"It was the best season I've ever coached here, what with winning the WAC Championship, coming in strong at NCAA's and having three All-Americans."
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Loss in NCAAs drives Abas
November 30, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Two points is all that separated Fresno State wrestler Gerry Abas from the 1993 NCAA 142-pound individual championship.
That heartbreaking 16-15 loss to Iowa's Lincoln McLlravy is that drives Abas in his quest to realize his dream and be a champion.
"There's no other place to go, other than winning the championship," Abas said.
"My goal is always to do better the next year than you did the last. Since I've strived to do that every year I've been in this sport, I have a pretty high goal to set."
Abas, a two-time All-American, has met his share of goals since coming to FSU from Oakland Technical High. He red-shirted in 1990, but has come on to win 77 of 90 Bulldog matches, place third in the WAC and win a WAC championship.
In two years, he has edged closer to his ultimate goal: a national title. Two years ago, he finished sixth at the NCAA championships and last year only the final loss separated him from his dream.
Because of his drive to succeed Abas will provide experience and leadership to a young FSU squad this season. Abas was named the 2nd-ranked 142-pounder in the nation by the Amateur Wrestling News.
"My first two years, I wanted to be an All-American, and I made that," Abas said. "Now my goals are harder, but higher to set."
"Anything less than a championship would definitely be a letdown of personal goals I've set all my life. Not that it would be devastating, but as an athlete, that's what I've strived for."
He has two more years in his Bulldog career, so Abas knows the clock isn't ticking on him--yet.
"You can't do better than placing four times in the national tournament, other than winning it. Now that I've been there, I know what it takes to win it, but knowing it and doing it are two different things."
He wants nothing better than to put his dreams and goals on the line in the championship match again against someone with a vision just like him.
"A lot of dreams and goals get smashed there," he said of the national tournament.
Abas has taken these approaches and combined it into a grueling training regiment that stresses attention to details and conditioning.
That hasn't gone unnoticed with coach Dennis DeLiddo, who regards Abas as one who will provide tremendous leadership, poise and maturity for this year's youth-dominated Bulldog team.
"That loss in the finals put him on his way because now he's working more on the little things it'll take to be the best," DeLiddo said. "He's always gone hard in every practice, but now he knows he has to be in better shape if he wants to win the national title." According to DeLiddo, there has already been a difference in Abas' outlook this year compared to last.
"His leadership is an important part of his performance for the team," DeLiddo said. "The guys will listen to him when he says something. He is also a totally dedicated team person, really into seeing the whole team do well, not just himself."
But Abas won't kid himself when he gets onto the mat. He says that while he has established himself as one of the premier wrestlers in the nation, he still has his individual goals to meet.
Abas, though, is a team player and does what he can by showing intensity on the bench shouting encouragement to teammates.
"Wrestling is an individual sport; there's only so much you can do teamwise. When it's time to play the game, you're the only one out there. During practice I try to make my teammates better by giving them a solid opponent."
But Abas doesn't seem to need extra intensity in his own matches. His best asset is his quickness, technique and strategy rather than punishing people by brute physical strength.
"People who watch me only see my flexibility and athleticism, but the way I win is by outthinking someone. Eighty to ninety percent of this sport is mental."
One reason Abas is able to make good strategy decisions on the mat is his ability to withstand pressure. He has a simple philosophy: have fun with the sport.
"I let pressure take care of itself. When a guy steps in front of me he knows he's wrestling the NCAA runner-up, I don't have to say anything," he says.
"You can either put pressure on yourself or let it be there. I think if you get emotional before a match you'll end up psyching yourself out rather than intimidating anyone on the collegiate level."
Following that formula for success has made Abas a wrestler that other Bulldogs respect. The role of team leader has not come easy to the soft-spoken Abas, but he'll take it.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Two points is all that separated Fresno State wrestler Gerry Abas from the 1993 NCAA 142-pound individual championship.
That heartbreaking 16-15 loss to Iowa's Lincoln McLlravy is that drives Abas in his quest to realize his dream and be a champion.
"There's no other place to go, other than winning the championship," Abas said.
"My goal is always to do better the next year than you did the last. Since I've strived to do that every year I've been in this sport, I have a pretty high goal to set."
Abas, a two-time All-American, has met his share of goals since coming to FSU from Oakland Technical High. He red-shirted in 1990, but has come on to win 77 of 90 Bulldog matches, place third in the WAC and win a WAC championship.
In two years, he has edged closer to his ultimate goal: a national title. Two years ago, he finished sixth at the NCAA championships and last year only the final loss separated him from his dream.
Because of his drive to succeed Abas will provide experience and leadership to a young FSU squad this season. Abas was named the 2nd-ranked 142-pounder in the nation by the Amateur Wrestling News.
"My first two years, I wanted to be an All-American, and I made that," Abas said. "Now my goals are harder, but higher to set."
"Anything less than a championship would definitely be a letdown of personal goals I've set all my life. Not that it would be devastating, but as an athlete, that's what I've strived for."
He has two more years in his Bulldog career, so Abas knows the clock isn't ticking on him--yet.
"You can't do better than placing four times in the national tournament, other than winning it. Now that I've been there, I know what it takes to win it, but knowing it and doing it are two different things."
He wants nothing better than to put his dreams and goals on the line in the championship match again against someone with a vision just like him.
"A lot of dreams and goals get smashed there," he said of the national tournament.
Abas has taken these approaches and combined it into a grueling training regiment that stresses attention to details and conditioning.
That hasn't gone unnoticed with coach Dennis DeLiddo, who regards Abas as one who will provide tremendous leadership, poise and maturity for this year's youth-dominated Bulldog team.
"That loss in the finals put him on his way because now he's working more on the little things it'll take to be the best," DeLiddo said. "He's always gone hard in every practice, but now he knows he has to be in better shape if he wants to win the national title." According to DeLiddo, there has already been a difference in Abas' outlook this year compared to last.
"His leadership is an important part of his performance for the team," DeLiddo said. "The guys will listen to him when he says something. He is also a totally dedicated team person, really into seeing the whole team do well, not just himself."
But Abas won't kid himself when he gets onto the mat. He says that while he has established himself as one of the premier wrestlers in the nation, he still has his individual goals to meet.
Abas, though, is a team player and does what he can by showing intensity on the bench shouting encouragement to teammates.
"Wrestling is an individual sport; there's only so much you can do teamwise. When it's time to play the game, you're the only one out there. During practice I try to make my teammates better by giving them a solid opponent."
But Abas doesn't seem to need extra intensity in his own matches. His best asset is his quickness, technique and strategy rather than punishing people by brute physical strength.
"People who watch me only see my flexibility and athleticism, but the way I win is by outthinking someone. Eighty to ninety percent of this sport is mental."
One reason Abas is able to make good strategy decisions on the mat is his ability to withstand pressure. He has a simple philosophy: have fun with the sport.
"I let pressure take care of itself. When a guy steps in front of me he knows he's wrestling the NCAA runner-up, I don't have to say anything," he says.
"You can either put pressure on yourself or let it be there. I think if you get emotional before a match you'll end up psyching yourself out rather than intimidating anyone on the collegiate level."
Following that formula for success has made Abas a wrestler that other Bulldogs respect. The role of team leader has not come easy to the soft-spoken Abas, but he'll take it.
The NFL has come to Fresno
March 17, 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Get ready to cheer your favorite Bulldog gridiron heroes next year in the pros. The National Football League has come to Fresno.
Okay, it's not going to be a pro team, but several NFL scouts were on hand Tuesday to set their sights on strong-armed star quarterback Trent Dilfer.
The junior led the Bulldogs to two of the finest seasons in FSU history and last December announced his intention to enter the NFL draft, ending his Fresno State career and putting him right up there with ex-'Dogs Mark Barsotti, Jeff Tedford, and Kevin Sweeney.
While several representatives from 16 NFL teams watched, Dilfer put on a quarterback clinic in a pre-draft workout that had him running and passing with precision and poise.
The low rungs of the league particularly were watching with great interest, as head coaches Dave Shula of the Cincinnati Bengals and Bruce Coslet (formerly of the New York Jets) looked on with watering mouths.
Equally impressed were Los Angeles Raiders quarterback coach Tom Walsh and new Washington Redskins head coach Norv Turner, who left the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys to take over the struggling 'Skins.
"If he doesn't get picked (earlier), he will be a Redskin," Washington general manager Charlie Casserly said.
"I peaked today," Dilfer said. "I feel I did as well as I could and I wanted to make this workout set apart."
In 1992, Dilfer led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record and a share of the WAC title. That culminated in FSU pulling off one of the biggest shocking upsets in college football last season.
The Bulldogs were pitted against perennial stronghold USC in the Freedom Bowl that December. Experts gave FSU two chances of winning--slim and none.
But while the Bulldogs didn't light up the scoreboard as typical that year, their defense did the job and Dilfer was cool and efficient in leading FSU to a stunning 24-7 win, which coast Trojan coach Larry Smith his job.
Dilfer had led the Bulldogs to a comeback win over San Diego State to deny them the Holiday Bowl and FSU's point-a-minute offense was turning heads around the country.
Heads turned even more when the 'Dogs trounced the Trojans in Anaheim.
The 1993 season saw the Bulldogs being highly touted, what with their Sports Illustrated 10th ranking.
Dilfer was sharp in the opener against Baylor, but the 'Dog defense died late and FSU was dealt a 42-39 upset.
Dilfer was shackled by a shoulder injury early in the season and while he couldn't bomb away as usual, he guided the 'Dogs to wins in the early going and ended up leading the NCAA in passing efficiency.
He also set a record for passes without an interception as FSU again won a share of the WAC title and gained entry to the Jeep/Eagle Aloha Bowl in Hawaii against Colorado.
While the 'Dogs didn't pull out another upset win, they gave Colorado all they could handle in a 41-30 loss. Dilfer set an Aloha Bowl record for passing, nearly single handedly shredding the Colorado defense.
On the practice field Tuesday, Dilfer was even more impressive as he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds. He followed that up by throwing passes to fellow Bulldog receivers Tydus Winans, Malcolm Seabron, and Lee Harris.
The Bulldog wideouts ran their routes while Dilfer spent his time in the pocket. Of his 90 passes, 85 were right on target. The passing workouts lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
"I wanted to see if I could go (the whole practice) without missing," Dilfer said. "It didn't turn out that way, but I didn't do too badly with all the time I spent out there."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Get ready to cheer your favorite Bulldog gridiron heroes next year in the pros. The National Football League has come to Fresno.
Okay, it's not going to be a pro team, but several NFL scouts were on hand Tuesday to set their sights on strong-armed star quarterback Trent Dilfer.
The junior led the Bulldogs to two of the finest seasons in FSU history and last December announced his intention to enter the NFL draft, ending his Fresno State career and putting him right up there with ex-'Dogs Mark Barsotti, Jeff Tedford, and Kevin Sweeney.
While several representatives from 16 NFL teams watched, Dilfer put on a quarterback clinic in a pre-draft workout that had him running and passing with precision and poise.
The low rungs of the league particularly were watching with great interest, as head coaches Dave Shula of the Cincinnati Bengals and Bruce Coslet (formerly of the New York Jets) looked on with watering mouths.
Equally impressed were Los Angeles Raiders quarterback coach Tom Walsh and new Washington Redskins head coach Norv Turner, who left the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys to take over the struggling 'Skins.
"If he doesn't get picked (earlier), he will be a Redskin," Washington general manager Charlie Casserly said.
"I peaked today," Dilfer said. "I feel I did as well as I could and I wanted to make this workout set apart."
In 1992, Dilfer led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record and a share of the WAC title. That culminated in FSU pulling off one of the biggest shocking upsets in college football last season.
The Bulldogs were pitted against perennial stronghold USC in the Freedom Bowl that December. Experts gave FSU two chances of winning--slim and none.
But while the Bulldogs didn't light up the scoreboard as typical that year, their defense did the job and Dilfer was cool and efficient in leading FSU to a stunning 24-7 win, which coast Trojan coach Larry Smith his job.
Dilfer had led the Bulldogs to a comeback win over San Diego State to deny them the Holiday Bowl and FSU's point-a-minute offense was turning heads around the country.
Heads turned even more when the 'Dogs trounced the Trojans in Anaheim.
The 1993 season saw the Bulldogs being highly touted, what with their Sports Illustrated 10th ranking.
Dilfer was sharp in the opener against Baylor, but the 'Dog defense died late and FSU was dealt a 42-39 upset.
Dilfer was shackled by a shoulder injury early in the season and while he couldn't bomb away as usual, he guided the 'Dogs to wins in the early going and ended up leading the NCAA in passing efficiency.
He also set a record for passes without an interception as FSU again won a share of the WAC title and gained entry to the Jeep/Eagle Aloha Bowl in Hawaii against Colorado.
While the 'Dogs didn't pull out another upset win, they gave Colorado all they could handle in a 41-30 loss. Dilfer set an Aloha Bowl record for passing, nearly single handedly shredding the Colorado defense.
On the practice field Tuesday, Dilfer was even more impressive as he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds. He followed that up by throwing passes to fellow Bulldog receivers Tydus Winans, Malcolm Seabron, and Lee Harris.
The Bulldog wideouts ran their routes while Dilfer spent his time in the pocket. Of his 90 passes, 85 were right on target. The passing workouts lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
"I wanted to see if I could go (the whole practice) without missing," Dilfer said. "It didn't turn out that way, but I didn't do too badly with all the time I spent out there."
FSU Basketball in first place?
February 24, 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Well, I guess everybody’s gonna have to find a bigger bandwagon to jump on these days.
There’s a wave of Bulldog fever now that it is getting into March and Fresno State basketball is contending for a conference title. (Can you say Madness?)
Actually, the calendar still reads late February but the standings say that FSU is tied for first with the New Mexico Lobos. No kidding.
Really, has anybody warmed up to this fact or are Bulldog diehards still waiting for the spring pass, punt and kick drills to take place at Bulldog Stadium?
Well, the rise of the ’Dogs in ’93-’94 after their perpetual also-ran status since the late 80’s has really been something. Too bad nobody has noticed because Sweeney’s boys went over to the islands and just couldn’t do it.
While the ’Dogs have certainly proved themselves as up-and-coming prime-timers on the grass and chalk in 1992 and ’93, an equally surprising story would be FSU painting themselves in WAC title colors in hoops after their tumultuous season last year under coach Gary Colson.
Now, maybe you’ve forgot, but if FSU happens to sweep their four games left against UTEP, New Mexico, Colorado State, and Wyoming, it would be their first conference championship since, oh, 1982.
And the Bulldogs’ eight straight wins are their biggest streak since 1983-84--the last time they appeared in the NCAA’s.
The ’Dogs are 16-7 on the season and 11-3 in WAC play, but that doesn’t even begin to put light on why they’ve suddenly made a surprising run at the WAC title after years of mediocrity and teams that didn’t play up to their potential (see: 1991-92 and ’92-’93 teams.)
A return to Colson’s emphasis on solid teamwork and a willingness to get the job done despite differences and bickering are the prime reasons the Bulldogs have enough to make a serious run at the WAC title.
There have been teams that have played well together but just couldn’t stand each other.
All 15 players on the Bulldog roster get along pretty well away from Selland, but on the court you wouldn’t know it.
The Bulldogs can be continually at each other’s throats when the ball doesn’t bounce their way, so Colson settles them down by calling a timeout once in a while to cool down what he calls "thunderbolts."
A front row seat at Selland Arena is always a plus when the fans at ringside get to hear a Bulldog shout some unprintable epithet at either themselves or someone else who gets in their way (like that poor Hawaii soul the night FSU pulled away, 88-82.)
In this sense, the entertainment you get at Selland these days is well-worth the price of admission. The problem is, most Bulldog rooters that should be there don’t want to pay the price--which means coughing up 12 bucks to go to a game downtown.
See, the ’Dogs have been in this spot before. Three years ago, they were seemingly headed for the top of the conference when of course they folded like a cheap taco to finish two games below .500 and lose the Big West tourney by a heartbreaker.
Again, motivation. Back from that team is Carl Ray Harris and Lee Mayberry, who say that one reason the ’Dogs won’t fold is better maturity this time around.
The ’Dogs already have wrapped up their best record in nine seasons and are a far cry from their dark days from 1986-88 when they had consecutive 9-win seasons, or 1990, when FSU’s home attendance fell below 10,000 for the first time in six years.
The ’Dogs have also been through four straight losing seasons, three under Colson. Colson’s answer is that he’s no miracle worker, but his time is coming--that you can be sure.
It usually takes about three years to turn around a perpetual losing team such as the Bulldogs. So Colson’s patient building holds, the calendar turns, and across town, FSU’s hoop denizens are slowly nodding their heads.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Well, I guess everybody’s gonna have to find a bigger bandwagon to jump on these days.
There’s a wave of Bulldog fever now that it is getting into March and Fresno State basketball is contending for a conference title. (Can you say Madness?)
Actually, the calendar still reads late February but the standings say that FSU is tied for first with the New Mexico Lobos. No kidding.
Really, has anybody warmed up to this fact or are Bulldog diehards still waiting for the spring pass, punt and kick drills to take place at Bulldog Stadium?
Well, the rise of the ’Dogs in ’93-’94 after their perpetual also-ran status since the late 80’s has really been something. Too bad nobody has noticed because Sweeney’s boys went over to the islands and just couldn’t do it.
While the ’Dogs have certainly proved themselves as up-and-coming prime-timers on the grass and chalk in 1992 and ’93, an equally surprising story would be FSU painting themselves in WAC title colors in hoops after their tumultuous season last year under coach Gary Colson.
Now, maybe you’ve forgot, but if FSU happens to sweep their four games left against UTEP, New Mexico, Colorado State, and Wyoming, it would be their first conference championship since, oh, 1982.
And the Bulldogs’ eight straight wins are their biggest streak since 1983-84--the last time they appeared in the NCAA’s.
The ’Dogs are 16-7 on the season and 11-3 in WAC play, but that doesn’t even begin to put light on why they’ve suddenly made a surprising run at the WAC title after years of mediocrity and teams that didn’t play up to their potential (see: 1991-92 and ’92-’93 teams.)
A return to Colson’s emphasis on solid teamwork and a willingness to get the job done despite differences and bickering are the prime reasons the Bulldogs have enough to make a serious run at the WAC title.
There have been teams that have played well together but just couldn’t stand each other.
All 15 players on the Bulldog roster get along pretty well away from Selland, but on the court you wouldn’t know it.
The Bulldogs can be continually at each other’s throats when the ball doesn’t bounce their way, so Colson settles them down by calling a timeout once in a while to cool down what he calls "thunderbolts."
A front row seat at Selland Arena is always a plus when the fans at ringside get to hear a Bulldog shout some unprintable epithet at either themselves or someone else who gets in their way (like that poor Hawaii soul the night FSU pulled away, 88-82.)
In this sense, the entertainment you get at Selland these days is well-worth the price of admission. The problem is, most Bulldog rooters that should be there don’t want to pay the price--which means coughing up 12 bucks to go to a game downtown.
See, the ’Dogs have been in this spot before. Three years ago, they were seemingly headed for the top of the conference when of course they folded like a cheap taco to finish two games below .500 and lose the Big West tourney by a heartbreaker.
Again, motivation. Back from that team is Carl Ray Harris and Lee Mayberry, who say that one reason the ’Dogs won’t fold is better maturity this time around.
The ’Dogs already have wrapped up their best record in nine seasons and are a far cry from their dark days from 1986-88 when they had consecutive 9-win seasons, or 1990, when FSU’s home attendance fell below 10,000 for the first time in six years.
The ’Dogs have also been through four straight losing seasons, three under Colson. Colson’s answer is that he’s no miracle worker, but his time is coming--that you can be sure.
It usually takes about three years to turn around a perpetual losing team such as the Bulldogs. So Colson’s patient building holds, the calendar turns, and across town, FSU’s hoop denizens are slowly nodding their heads.
Zinkin perfect after redshirt season
February 18, 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The FSU wrestling program has had some great traditions over the years, but none as strong as the Zinkins.
How do you start? There’s the eldest, Harold, who gained All-American honors in his Bulldog career and is now an assistant coach for the ’Dog grapplers. Then there’s freshman Nick, the youngest who starts at 126 pounds for the Bulldogs.
Head coach Dennis DeLiddo gets into the act by being the uncle. And don’t forget junior DeWayne, who is a 134-pounder having a breakthrough season.
The Zinkins’ wrestling success, made possible by hard work and determination, is partly the reason De Wayne appears headed for glory in the NCAA tournament with a 25-0 record this season.
The fact that Zinkin has put together such a great season after having to redshirt the previous year, makes it all the more surprising.
Last year’s Bulldog team was the best in school history and all DeWayne could do was watch.
This year, however, he’s having the best individual season in school history.
"It was tough to sit out and watch the team have a great season," Zinkin said. "But I think in the long run it turned out to be the best thing I could have done."
Zinkin was asked to redshirt because his older brother Harold was penciled in at his natural 134-pound spot and the 126-pound class would have been too tough to attain.
In sitting out last season, however, he made a commitment to becoming a better wrestler and a more complete one.
"You have to practice with just as much intensity (when you redshirt), otherwise the year won’t mean anything," Zinkin said, adding that his brother taught him some of his most important lessons during his redshirt year.
"I made it a priority to do hours of drilling and wrestling every day," Zinkin said.
DeLiddo said Zinkin’s desire to improve dramatically during the off-season was a big selling point to the Bulldog brass.
"He always had great natural ability. He just had never worked real hard at improving himself until this past year," DeLiddo said. "He hit the weights hard last summer and definitely was fired up to have a big season."
The big hint that turned around Zinkin’s career around was his new-found reputation as always being the last wrestler to leave practice each day, and being pushed by Terry Watts and Gerry Abas, both seasoned grapplers.
"I want to lead by example and the only way you can do that is to go out and prove yourself when the time comes to compete," Zinkin said.
Zinkin did everything possible to improve, and now he is reaping the rewards: an unbeaten 25-0 season, ranked fourth in his 134-pound weight class, 12-0 in season dual meets, and only the second Bulldog ever to win the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament.
The Las Vegas meet is the most prestigious wrestling tournament in the country, and it is only fitting that brother Harold was the first FSU grappler to take an individual title in the meet.
"Seeing his brother wrestle so well and place at the NCAA’s last year probably provided the spark for him, because he saw what hard work had gotten Harold," DeLiddo said.
While Zinkin has nor dominated many opponents this year because of his constant battle with injuries, he has done what it takes to win.
He was not ranked coming into this season, but has steadily moved his way up, going from virtually unheard-of to being a national title contender.
Zinkin has certainly made each match interesting. Of his 25 wins on the season, seven have been come from behind victories in the last 20 seconds or overtime. He has not pinned any opponent all year.
With the bond the Zinkin brothers share in wrestling, some of the biggest rivalries have been their own.
Zinkin said the brothers try not to wrestle each other much at practice anymore "because we’d go at it all the time growing up and we’d always end up in fights," he said with a laugh.
DeLiddo echoed that hard work, not just talent, has gotten the Zinkins to where they are today.
"None of them were big time recruits coming out of high school, except for Nick," DeLiddo said. "They have had to work hard to be among the nation’s best."
"DeWayne got confidence in himself by watching his brother (Harold) accomplish so much last season, and he took it upon himself to put in the extra work to get where he is now. He’s a great example to his brother Nick," DeLiddo added.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The FSU wrestling program has had some great traditions over the years, but none as strong as the Zinkins.
How do you start? There’s the eldest, Harold, who gained All-American honors in his Bulldog career and is now an assistant coach for the ’Dog grapplers. Then there’s freshman Nick, the youngest who starts at 126 pounds for the Bulldogs.
Head coach Dennis DeLiddo gets into the act by being the uncle. And don’t forget junior DeWayne, who is a 134-pounder having a breakthrough season.
The Zinkins’ wrestling success, made possible by hard work and determination, is partly the reason De Wayne appears headed for glory in the NCAA tournament with a 25-0 record this season.
The fact that Zinkin has put together such a great season after having to redshirt the previous year, makes it all the more surprising.
Last year’s Bulldog team was the best in school history and all DeWayne could do was watch.
This year, however, he’s having the best individual season in school history.
"It was tough to sit out and watch the team have a great season," Zinkin said. "But I think in the long run it turned out to be the best thing I could have done."
Zinkin was asked to redshirt because his older brother Harold was penciled in at his natural 134-pound spot and the 126-pound class would have been too tough to attain.
In sitting out last season, however, he made a commitment to becoming a better wrestler and a more complete one.
"You have to practice with just as much intensity (when you redshirt), otherwise the year won’t mean anything," Zinkin said, adding that his brother taught him some of his most important lessons during his redshirt year.
"I made it a priority to do hours of drilling and wrestling every day," Zinkin said.
DeLiddo said Zinkin’s desire to improve dramatically during the off-season was a big selling point to the Bulldog brass.
"He always had great natural ability. He just had never worked real hard at improving himself until this past year," DeLiddo said. "He hit the weights hard last summer and definitely was fired up to have a big season."
The big hint that turned around Zinkin’s career around was his new-found reputation as always being the last wrestler to leave practice each day, and being pushed by Terry Watts and Gerry Abas, both seasoned grapplers.
"I want to lead by example and the only way you can do that is to go out and prove yourself when the time comes to compete," Zinkin said.
Zinkin did everything possible to improve, and now he is reaping the rewards: an unbeaten 25-0 season, ranked fourth in his 134-pound weight class, 12-0 in season dual meets, and only the second Bulldog ever to win the Las Vegas Invitational Tournament.
The Las Vegas meet is the most prestigious wrestling tournament in the country, and it is only fitting that brother Harold was the first FSU grappler to take an individual title in the meet.
"Seeing his brother wrestle so well and place at the NCAA’s last year probably provided the spark for him, because he saw what hard work had gotten Harold," DeLiddo said.
While Zinkin has nor dominated many opponents this year because of his constant battle with injuries, he has done what it takes to win.
He was not ranked coming into this season, but has steadily moved his way up, going from virtually unheard-of to being a national title contender.
Zinkin has certainly made each match interesting. Of his 25 wins on the season, seven have been come from behind victories in the last 20 seconds or overtime. He has not pinned any opponent all year.
With the bond the Zinkin brothers share in wrestling, some of the biggest rivalries have been their own.
Zinkin said the brothers try not to wrestle each other much at practice anymore "because we’d go at it all the time growing up and we’d always end up in fights," he said with a laugh.
DeLiddo echoed that hard work, not just talent, has gotten the Zinkins to where they are today.
"None of them were big time recruits coming out of high school, except for Nick," DeLiddo said. "They have had to work hard to be among the nation’s best."
"DeWayne got confidence in himself by watching his brother (Harold) accomplish so much last season, and he took it upon himself to put in the extra work to get where he is now. He’s a great example to his brother Nick," DeLiddo added.
McKean is FSU's unsung hero
February 11, 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
When it comes to the Fresno State wrestling team, two of the school’s most heralded athletes and one unheralded, yet justified other, comes to mind.
There’s 142-pound Gerry Abas, two-time All-American and runner-up in the NCAA’s last year, and DeWayne Zinkin, a 134-pounder who has rung up a 23-0 unbeaten season, including six come-from-behind wins.
But beyond all this rests senior Jeromy McKean, a 167-pounder who is not only leading the Bulldogs in wins this year with 31, but according to head coach Dennis DeLiddo, may be quietly having one of the best Bulldog seasons ever.
"He’s having a great year, which he should have done last year," DeLiddo said. "After he had that great sophomore year, he skipped his junior season. He didn’t actually skip it, but it wasn’t exactly a great year for him, either."
After a torrid 23-10-1 season as a sophomore in which he finished fourth in the WAC and received the Bulldogs Most Improved Award, McKean nose-dived to 14-13 his junior year but had a strong showing at the WAC Championships to finish second.
"He (DeLiddo) doesn’t want us to go out there and not do the job. He’s keeping his promise by making us stay in better shape," McKean said on his climb back to a stellar season.
That outlook has propelled McKean to a 74-31-1 four-year career record entering Sunday’s matches with Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Bakersfield at the North Gym, which will be McKean’s final home matches as a Bulldog.
"This year, it’s because I’ve wrestled more than anybody," McKean said in reference to his wins leading the Bulldogs. "Either the competition’s getting weaker or I’ve just got tougher."
Could be. After beginning his FSU career wrestling at 190, he moved down in the weight charts to 177 his sophomore year. He was slated to start this season at 177, but has since dropped yet another class to 167, where he now holds a 12th-place national ranking.
He’s always been saying, ’Coach, I can do it, I can wrestle at 167," DeLiddo said. "It must have worked because he’s out there now manhandling people. He always likes to get results."
The results have added up well: at 31-6 record, an 11th-place ranking at his old spot, 177, a 15-2 record in dual meets, three pins, and 66 points on the season.
McKean is also on a roll. He’s won 17 straight matches in a row since early January. The last decision he dropped came on January 8 against Oklahoma’s 6th-ranked Quincy Clark in the Oklahoma Open finals.
McKean credited DeLiddo’s brutal conditioning for the team’s improvement in being primed for success at tournament time.
"Now we’re doing less drilling and more live wrestling, sometimes for 40 minutes straight," McKean said. "We were supposed to dominate in the WAC tournament two years ago, but we ran out of steam. So (DeLiddo) is doing whatever he can to not let it happen again."
Zinkin-Abas-McKean. Two aces and a wild card. But McKean could be holding the trumps soon if his pattern continues.
"I’m feeling a lot more confident," McKean said. "Particularly mentally, and you’ve got to be prepared. When you’re nervous and scared, you lose a lot."
"As a sophomore, I used to get whipped bad by the seniors. So now it’s my turn. There is an advantage in having experience, and I guess now you could say that I’m peaking."
McKean, who finished second at last year’s WAC Championships, held out hope that the Bulldogs can once again come on in the tournament and put on a clinic.
"We should win the WAC, no problem," McKean said. "If possible we should have a good shot to take it."
This success hasn’t gone unnoticed in DeLiddo or McKean’s hometown. McKean is from Moses Lake, Washington, where at Moses Lake High he had a 64-4 career record.
He made two appearances in the state championships and brought home an individual state title with a 34-0 record his senior year.
"Getting (the top 12 ranking) was a big deal to him," DeLiddo said.
"He’s a local town hero back home, a media figure and everything. That means a lot to him. For people who like good success, that’s a good record."
DeLiddo also said that McKean, because of his 190-pound strength inside 167 pounds, is easily the class of the WAC at that spot.
"He doesn’t let up. He can go as long as he doesn’t gag, or gas out," DeLiddo said.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
When it comes to the Fresno State wrestling team, two of the school’s most heralded athletes and one unheralded, yet justified other, comes to mind.
There’s 142-pound Gerry Abas, two-time All-American and runner-up in the NCAA’s last year, and DeWayne Zinkin, a 134-pounder who has rung up a 23-0 unbeaten season, including six come-from-behind wins.
But beyond all this rests senior Jeromy McKean, a 167-pounder who is not only leading the Bulldogs in wins this year with 31, but according to head coach Dennis DeLiddo, may be quietly having one of the best Bulldog seasons ever.
"He’s having a great year, which he should have done last year," DeLiddo said. "After he had that great sophomore year, he skipped his junior season. He didn’t actually skip it, but it wasn’t exactly a great year for him, either."
After a torrid 23-10-1 season as a sophomore in which he finished fourth in the WAC and received the Bulldogs Most Improved Award, McKean nose-dived to 14-13 his junior year but had a strong showing at the WAC Championships to finish second.
"He (DeLiddo) doesn’t want us to go out there and not do the job. He’s keeping his promise by making us stay in better shape," McKean said on his climb back to a stellar season.
That outlook has propelled McKean to a 74-31-1 four-year career record entering Sunday’s matches with Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Bakersfield at the North Gym, which will be McKean’s final home matches as a Bulldog.
"This year, it’s because I’ve wrestled more than anybody," McKean said in reference to his wins leading the Bulldogs. "Either the competition’s getting weaker or I’ve just got tougher."
Could be. After beginning his FSU career wrestling at 190, he moved down in the weight charts to 177 his sophomore year. He was slated to start this season at 177, but has since dropped yet another class to 167, where he now holds a 12th-place national ranking.
He’s always been saying, ’Coach, I can do it, I can wrestle at 167," DeLiddo said. "It must have worked because he’s out there now manhandling people. He always likes to get results."
The results have added up well: at 31-6 record, an 11th-place ranking at his old spot, 177, a 15-2 record in dual meets, three pins, and 66 points on the season.
McKean is also on a roll. He’s won 17 straight matches in a row since early January. The last decision he dropped came on January 8 against Oklahoma’s 6th-ranked Quincy Clark in the Oklahoma Open finals.
McKean credited DeLiddo’s brutal conditioning for the team’s improvement in being primed for success at tournament time.
"Now we’re doing less drilling and more live wrestling, sometimes for 40 minutes straight," McKean said. "We were supposed to dominate in the WAC tournament two years ago, but we ran out of steam. So (DeLiddo) is doing whatever he can to not let it happen again."
Zinkin-Abas-McKean. Two aces and a wild card. But McKean could be holding the trumps soon if his pattern continues.
"I’m feeling a lot more confident," McKean said. "Particularly mentally, and you’ve got to be prepared. When you’re nervous and scared, you lose a lot."
"As a sophomore, I used to get whipped bad by the seniors. So now it’s my turn. There is an advantage in having experience, and I guess now you could say that I’m peaking."
McKean, who finished second at last year’s WAC Championships, held out hope that the Bulldogs can once again come on in the tournament and put on a clinic.
"We should win the WAC, no problem," McKean said. "If possible we should have a good shot to take it."
This success hasn’t gone unnoticed in DeLiddo or McKean’s hometown. McKean is from Moses Lake, Washington, where at Moses Lake High he had a 64-4 career record.
He made two appearances in the state championships and brought home an individual state title with a 34-0 record his senior year.
"Getting (the top 12 ranking) was a big deal to him," DeLiddo said.
"He’s a local town hero back home, a media figure and everything. That means a lot to him. For people who like good success, that’s a good record."
DeLiddo also said that McKean, because of his 190-pound strength inside 167 pounds, is easily the class of the WAC at that spot.
"He doesn’t let up. He can go as long as he doesn’t gag, or gas out," DeLiddo said.
Pitching a question mark
November 30, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Pitching may not really be 75 percent of baseball, but Fresno State has done a good job over the years convincing people it sure isn’t zero percent.
The Bulldog baseball program has been known as a breeding ground for future pitching stars in recent years. Since 1984, FSU has had 19 pitchers get drafted by big league teams and go to the majors.
Strong pitching has become a tradition at FSU along with its’ winning ways. Bobby Jones of the Mets, Mark Gardner of the Royals, Dick Ruthven of the Cubs and Phillies, Bob Stoddard, Rich Bordi and Warren Brusstar have all made their way to the big show via Beiden Field.
Last June, Steve Soderstrom and Mike Salazar became the next pitchers to carry on the proud Bulldog tradition. Soderstrom, a junior righthander, was taken in the first round of the draft by the San Francisco Giants. Soderstrom went 6-5 with a 3.80 ERA in 1993. He also became the highest FSU draft pick in Bulldog athletic history.
Salazar, who was drafted in 1992 by the Oakland Athletics, was taken in the 15th round of the June free agent draft by the Detroit Tigers. He went 13-3 with a 3.60 ERA for the Bulldogs in ’93 and was named a second-team selection on the All-District-8 team.
Salazar earned first-team All-WAC recognition for the first time with the best year of his career. He led the Bulldogs in wins, starts (19), innings (147.1), and strikeouts (131).
The most impressive statistic about Salazar is that he entered his senior season with a career won-lost record of 9-10. He finished at 22-13.
Another Bulldog who wasn’t drafted but ended his FSU career with great credentials was Mark Cruise. Cruise posted a 7-6 record to go with a 3.82 ERA last season.
Other stalwart Bulldog hurlers such as Jared Fernandez and Tommy Minor return, but the big question for FSU in ’94 will be whether they can shoulder the loss of Soderstrom, Salazar, and Cruise.
Coach Bob Bennett has made a living out of dredging up little-known pitchers and turning them into standouts. He said next year will be no exception.
"We have good enough arms to make for a good pitching staff, but we still have a lot of question marks," Bennett said. "But my hope is optimism. I think these pitchers can rise to the occasion and do a good job."
The Bulldogs have always relied heavily on their mound work, something Bennett feels has been made out of necessity.
The Bulldogs’ attack has not always been the same while making a habit of reaching the NCAA playoffs the last 17 years. Some years, the ’Dogs have been carried by hitting; other years, the pitching has boosted them.
"I’ve always felt that our pitching should hold on until our ballclub came together," he said. "But next year, our regular lineup will be a bit more experienced and they will just have to hold the fort down until we get our pitching in order."
"That’s not to say our pitching is going to be down, it just hasn’t had the opportunity to show itself yet."
FSU’s pitching has mostly been unproven and untried at the Division I level.
Besides Fernandez, the roster that will make up the Bulldog moundmen in ’94 had a 1-3 record between its’ starters.
Among the Bulldogs who will return to the mound are Fernandez, Minor, Scott Warembourg, Raul Gonzalez, Victor Mercado, Tony Enard, and Eric Newman.
Fernandez enjoyed a stellar season in 1993, going 7-3 with a 3.54 ERA. Moving into the rotation late in the season, he proved instrumental in the ’Dogs defeating BYU for the WAC Championship Series title. In the deciding game, Fernandez struck out a career-high nine batters and walked just one.
Tommy Minor, regularly a third baseman, won the Bulldogs’ Gold Glove and posted a 7-1 record with a team-high three saves.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Pitching may not really be 75 percent of baseball, but Fresno State has done a good job over the years convincing people it sure isn’t zero percent.
The Bulldog baseball program has been known as a breeding ground for future pitching stars in recent years. Since 1984, FSU has had 19 pitchers get drafted by big league teams and go to the majors.
Strong pitching has become a tradition at FSU along with its’ winning ways. Bobby Jones of the Mets, Mark Gardner of the Royals, Dick Ruthven of the Cubs and Phillies, Bob Stoddard, Rich Bordi and Warren Brusstar have all made their way to the big show via Beiden Field.
Last June, Steve Soderstrom and Mike Salazar became the next pitchers to carry on the proud Bulldog tradition. Soderstrom, a junior righthander, was taken in the first round of the draft by the San Francisco Giants. Soderstrom went 6-5 with a 3.80 ERA in 1993. He also became the highest FSU draft pick in Bulldog athletic history.
Salazar, who was drafted in 1992 by the Oakland Athletics, was taken in the 15th round of the June free agent draft by the Detroit Tigers. He went 13-3 with a 3.60 ERA for the Bulldogs in ’93 and was named a second-team selection on the All-District-8 team.
Salazar earned first-team All-WAC recognition for the first time with the best year of his career. He led the Bulldogs in wins, starts (19), innings (147.1), and strikeouts (131).
The most impressive statistic about Salazar is that he entered his senior season with a career won-lost record of 9-10. He finished at 22-13.
Another Bulldog who wasn’t drafted but ended his FSU career with great credentials was Mark Cruise. Cruise posted a 7-6 record to go with a 3.82 ERA last season.
Other stalwart Bulldog hurlers such as Jared Fernandez and Tommy Minor return, but the big question for FSU in ’94 will be whether they can shoulder the loss of Soderstrom, Salazar, and Cruise.
Coach Bob Bennett has made a living out of dredging up little-known pitchers and turning them into standouts. He said next year will be no exception.
"We have good enough arms to make for a good pitching staff, but we still have a lot of question marks," Bennett said. "But my hope is optimism. I think these pitchers can rise to the occasion and do a good job."
The Bulldogs have always relied heavily on their mound work, something Bennett feels has been made out of necessity.
The Bulldogs’ attack has not always been the same while making a habit of reaching the NCAA playoffs the last 17 years. Some years, the ’Dogs have been carried by hitting; other years, the pitching has boosted them.
"I’ve always felt that our pitching should hold on until our ballclub came together," he said. "But next year, our regular lineup will be a bit more experienced and they will just have to hold the fort down until we get our pitching in order."
"That’s not to say our pitching is going to be down, it just hasn’t had the opportunity to show itself yet."
FSU’s pitching has mostly been unproven and untried at the Division I level.
Besides Fernandez, the roster that will make up the Bulldog moundmen in ’94 had a 1-3 record between its’ starters.
Among the Bulldogs who will return to the mound are Fernandez, Minor, Scott Warembourg, Raul Gonzalez, Victor Mercado, Tony Enard, and Eric Newman.
Fernandez enjoyed a stellar season in 1993, going 7-3 with a 3.54 ERA. Moving into the rotation late in the season, he proved instrumental in the ’Dogs defeating BYU for the WAC Championship Series title. In the deciding game, Fernandez struck out a career-high nine batters and walked just one.
Tommy Minor, regularly a third baseman, won the Bulldogs’ Gold Glove and posted a 7-1 record with a team-high three saves.
Super Bowl XXVIII will be the super bore
November 29, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Super Bowl preview, part one. It’s not too early to start thinking about what to do with those three hours on the best Sunday in the year. In this case, you might want to sleep this one out.
The Cowboys and Bills threaten to clutter up the tube next January, to the eternal chagrin of yours truly and the despair of executives who seek TV ratings, not to mention the gluttony of Las Vegas bettors.
It looks it’ll be Dallas and Buffalo in the Super Bowl again, but maybe a darkhorse might break through. That question will be made null and void by the weaknesses of so many contenders that will enter the playoff field in December and get sent out quickly.
This has been perhaps the strangest, most-parity filled NFL campaign on record. There isn’t a dominant team. One team might rise up one week only to get clobbered the next.
Too many teams have one or two good strengths, but lack the pieces in all phases--offense, defense, special teams, coaching--to claim a title. Only three teams can say they are the most balanced teams in the league with a definite Super Bowl chance. They are Dallas, Buffalo and San Francisco. They run the ball well. They pass the ball well. They have tough defenses. They’ve done that with regularity in recent years and continue to display themselves as the league’s best franchises.
And the most important factor is that Jimmy Johnson, Marv Levy, and George Seifert are able to keep their respective teams at the top despite persistent doubts.
In the AFC, Buffalo should lock up the title and go to their fourth Super Bowl in as many years. Why? Because nobody else is good enough to pose a serious threat.
In that case, the Bills (yawn) win by default.
Other contenders will be Miami, the N.Y. Jets, Houston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Kansas City, Denver and the L.A. Raiders.
Don Shula may have his coaching win record, but the Dolphins can kiss their chances goodbye without Dan Marino.
A talented journeyman you are, Steve DeBerg, but teams don’t just shove you aside for nothing.
The Jets, even with Boomer Esiason and a decent offense, remain a middle-of-the-pack team, good enough to make the playoffs but nothing more. The same is true for the Oilers, Steelers and Browns.
Houston, with its’ Run and Shoot, peaked about two years ago but hasn’t been the same since blowing a 35-3 lead to the Bills in last year’s playoffs. The Steelers think their Curtain is back, but haven’t been battle-tested like their predecessors. And in Cleveland, they want Bernie Kosar to come back.
How about Kansas City? They seem a lock because they have the most relentless, ballhawking defense in the game. But stop their old beaten up signalcallers, Montana and Krieg, and you stop K.C.
And now we ask ourselves: As unbelievably inept as the Bills have been in their Super strikeout, do we really want the Broncos to go again? Denver would be the last thing the Super Bowl needs.
The prisoner was being strapped in the chair when the governor called to give him a pardon. In that case, the Los Angeles Raiders should be lucky to be alive.
They’ve been winning--and losing--on last-moment drama that made their Oakland counterparts notorious.
The network crews love the Raiders for that reason. A Raider game is never over until it’s over. It’s because they can’t put people away and have a weak ground attack. But with a good D and a track medalist receiving corps, the Raiders have more speed than Jimmy Page ever took.
Dallas will probably break from the clutches of the NFC maze that includes the Giants, New Orleans, and San Francisco.
The Giants are back to the strength they used to be in the 80’s with old Phil Simms as spry as ever. With Simms’ resurgence, New York has been the league’s surprise team this year despite being thought too old to be a winning team any more. But another trend has come back: Dallas always beats the Giants handily, especially in Texas Stadium.
The Saints or the 49ers will be the last Cowboy step, although the nod goes to the 49ers. New Orleans’ history is against them as a team that breaks down in the clutch. Time to put on those paper bags, ’Aints.
The 49ers will win, because they are the 49ers. Besides Dallas and Buffalo, the Niners are among the top three teams in the league with offensive firepower and defensive muscle.
It looks like another Dallas-San Francisco matchup for the NFC title, again by default. That will probably be the real Super Bowl this season, sorry to say for the people who will pay a thousand bucks for tickets to Atlanta next January.
And in the other league? Buffalo will beat either the Raiders, Chiefs or Steelers to get their fourth straight AFC crown and consequently their fourth straight Super Bowl loss.
But in all seriousness, this would be perhaps the Bills’ best Super Bowl team. They’ve shown resolve and determination this year to make it back.
Some things never change, however. Cowboys, 52, Bills 17. Cowboys 53, Bills 18. Cowboys 51, Bills 16. Wake me up when it’s over.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Super Bowl preview, part one. It’s not too early to start thinking about what to do with those three hours on the best Sunday in the year. In this case, you might want to sleep this one out.
The Cowboys and Bills threaten to clutter up the tube next January, to the eternal chagrin of yours truly and the despair of executives who seek TV ratings, not to mention the gluttony of Las Vegas bettors.
It looks it’ll be Dallas and Buffalo in the Super Bowl again, but maybe a darkhorse might break through. That question will be made null and void by the weaknesses of so many contenders that will enter the playoff field in December and get sent out quickly.
This has been perhaps the strangest, most-parity filled NFL campaign on record. There isn’t a dominant team. One team might rise up one week only to get clobbered the next.
Too many teams have one or two good strengths, but lack the pieces in all phases--offense, defense, special teams, coaching--to claim a title. Only three teams can say they are the most balanced teams in the league with a definite Super Bowl chance. They are Dallas, Buffalo and San Francisco. They run the ball well. They pass the ball well. They have tough defenses. They’ve done that with regularity in recent years and continue to display themselves as the league’s best franchises.
And the most important factor is that Jimmy Johnson, Marv Levy, and George Seifert are able to keep their respective teams at the top despite persistent doubts.
In the AFC, Buffalo should lock up the title and go to their fourth Super Bowl in as many years. Why? Because nobody else is good enough to pose a serious threat.
In that case, the Bills (yawn) win by default.
Other contenders will be Miami, the N.Y. Jets, Houston, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Kansas City, Denver and the L.A. Raiders.
Don Shula may have his coaching win record, but the Dolphins can kiss their chances goodbye without Dan Marino.
A talented journeyman you are, Steve DeBerg, but teams don’t just shove you aside for nothing.
The Jets, even with Boomer Esiason and a decent offense, remain a middle-of-the-pack team, good enough to make the playoffs but nothing more. The same is true for the Oilers, Steelers and Browns.
Houston, with its’ Run and Shoot, peaked about two years ago but hasn’t been the same since blowing a 35-3 lead to the Bills in last year’s playoffs. The Steelers think their Curtain is back, but haven’t been battle-tested like their predecessors. And in Cleveland, they want Bernie Kosar to come back.
How about Kansas City? They seem a lock because they have the most relentless, ballhawking defense in the game. But stop their old beaten up signalcallers, Montana and Krieg, and you stop K.C.
And now we ask ourselves: As unbelievably inept as the Bills have been in their Super strikeout, do we really want the Broncos to go again? Denver would be the last thing the Super Bowl needs.
The prisoner was being strapped in the chair when the governor called to give him a pardon. In that case, the Los Angeles Raiders should be lucky to be alive.
They’ve been winning--and losing--on last-moment drama that made their Oakland counterparts notorious.
The network crews love the Raiders for that reason. A Raider game is never over until it’s over. It’s because they can’t put people away and have a weak ground attack. But with a good D and a track medalist receiving corps, the Raiders have more speed than Jimmy Page ever took.
Dallas will probably break from the clutches of the NFC maze that includes the Giants, New Orleans, and San Francisco.
The Giants are back to the strength they used to be in the 80’s with old Phil Simms as spry as ever. With Simms’ resurgence, New York has been the league’s surprise team this year despite being thought too old to be a winning team any more. But another trend has come back: Dallas always beats the Giants handily, especially in Texas Stadium.
The Saints or the 49ers will be the last Cowboy step, although the nod goes to the 49ers. New Orleans’ history is against them as a team that breaks down in the clutch. Time to put on those paper bags, ’Aints.
The 49ers will win, because they are the 49ers. Besides Dallas and Buffalo, the Niners are among the top three teams in the league with offensive firepower and defensive muscle.
It looks like another Dallas-San Francisco matchup for the NFC title, again by default. That will probably be the real Super Bowl this season, sorry to say for the people who will pay a thousand bucks for tickets to Atlanta next January.
And in the other league? Buffalo will beat either the Raiders, Chiefs or Steelers to get their fourth straight AFC crown and consequently their fourth straight Super Bowl loss.
But in all seriousness, this would be perhaps the Bills’ best Super Bowl team. They’ve shown resolve and determination this year to make it back.
Some things never change, however. Cowboys, 52, Bills 17. Cowboys 53, Bills 18. Cowboys 51, Bills 16. Wake me up when it’s over.
Football team gets a WAC Title
Fall 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Well, they did it again, didn’t they?
After a highly publicized season with tough losses to swallow, Fresno State football showed its resolve Saturday night. In the process of socking it to San Diego State, the Bulldogs did a lot more than just win a big game.
The ’Dogs not only improved to 8-3, they also clinched at least a share of the WAC title, they also clinched at least a share of the WAC title for the second straight year. Which means that FSU is bowl-bound once again. They needed to make an impression on the bowl committees, and they did.
The Bulldogs had slipped and lost a big game earlier (Wyoming) and they’re prone to that. Because of their inability to stop people at crunch time, they are vulnerable on the road. That especially holds true against option teams that run the ball. After that crushing blow in Laramie, last rites were being read to the ’Dogs. They had all but fallen out of the WAC race.
With the horses on offense to outscore anybody, an improving defense plus the most consistent kicker in its history, FSU could have gone unbeaten this season.
So what was the problem? They took weeks off against teams that should not have been allowed to step on the same field, much less compete.
They would get bored with the style of offense that kills them: run, run and run some more.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are quick but not mighty. With their speed in the secondary, the ’Dogs can shut down a passing team but can’t stop the run. The Bulldog D is not a rock ’em, stop ’em unit.
The Bulldogs like to score. They like to score big. And they don’t seem to care if you score on them--that only means they get the ball back.
And this is the type of team the ’Dogs like to play: an offensive-minded group that puts points on the board and moves the ball. In short, a team that will test their manhood and make the game fun to watch.
But teams that run the ball all day usually will give the Bulldogs problems. With the clock moving and the ball in the other guys’ hands, that means Dilfer and company have to sit on the sidelines for stretches at a time, watching a slow drive.
The ’Dogs are the type to get suicidal when their point total doesn’t get into the 30’s and 40’s and the yardage doesn’t get racked up.
When any team gets taken out of their offensive game plan, they find themselves stuggling, and that is what happened to FSU in the three upsets.
But enough of that. Let’s replay the highlights that brought FSU from the low point in midseason to bowl-bound.
The Bulldogs broke the Aztecs’ hearts--again. It was really no contest. Marshall Faulk vowed to steal the spotlight and play the whole game this time, but he came up short because the ’Dogs have too many weapons. But give him credit. He almost singlehandedly brought the Aztecs back in the game when they closed to 35-30 late in the third quarter.
That was when the ’Dogs finally came through. Dilfer ensured his NFL status by taking FSU on four nicely-done drives. In all that, his coolness was the trademark.
No penalties, no confusion and no mistakes were made. Just basic execution and a crunching running game as Rivers and Daigle took over.
This was Dilfer’s night--maybe his last at Bulldog Stadium. So he did what any QB bound for the pros would do--made it a great one. From what I see, Dilfer is headed for Cincinnati in 1994 given the Bengals just keep on losing.
Why Cincinnati? Because Dilfer has nothing left to prove. In just two short years, he has been maybe the biggest gun in the country leading the best offense, helped get the ’Dogs program into national prominence with big wins, and gained media attention going for the Heisman Trophy.
Dilfer won’t win, but missing out on that trophy is one of the few things that wouldn’t have gone his way this year. And the ’Dogs are back.
The Red Wave can relax with the best offense putting up points, and the defense has improved, which is why they should make it two straight impressive bowl wins.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Well, they did it again, didn’t they?
After a highly publicized season with tough losses to swallow, Fresno State football showed its resolve Saturday night. In the process of socking it to San Diego State, the Bulldogs did a lot more than just win a big game.
The ’Dogs not only improved to 8-3, they also clinched at least a share of the WAC title, they also clinched at least a share of the WAC title for the second straight year. Which means that FSU is bowl-bound once again. They needed to make an impression on the bowl committees, and they did.
The Bulldogs had slipped and lost a big game earlier (Wyoming) and they’re prone to that. Because of their inability to stop people at crunch time, they are vulnerable on the road. That especially holds true against option teams that run the ball. After that crushing blow in Laramie, last rites were being read to the ’Dogs. They had all but fallen out of the WAC race.
With the horses on offense to outscore anybody, an improving defense plus the most consistent kicker in its history, FSU could have gone unbeaten this season.
So what was the problem? They took weeks off against teams that should not have been allowed to step on the same field, much less compete.
They would get bored with the style of offense that kills them: run, run and run some more.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are quick but not mighty. With their speed in the secondary, the ’Dogs can shut down a passing team but can’t stop the run. The Bulldog D is not a rock ’em, stop ’em unit.
The Bulldogs like to score. They like to score big. And they don’t seem to care if you score on them--that only means they get the ball back.
And this is the type of team the ’Dogs like to play: an offensive-minded group that puts points on the board and moves the ball. In short, a team that will test their manhood and make the game fun to watch.
But teams that run the ball all day usually will give the Bulldogs problems. With the clock moving and the ball in the other guys’ hands, that means Dilfer and company have to sit on the sidelines for stretches at a time, watching a slow drive.
The ’Dogs are the type to get suicidal when their point total doesn’t get into the 30’s and 40’s and the yardage doesn’t get racked up.
When any team gets taken out of their offensive game plan, they find themselves stuggling, and that is what happened to FSU in the three upsets.
But enough of that. Let’s replay the highlights that brought FSU from the low point in midseason to bowl-bound.
The Bulldogs broke the Aztecs’ hearts--again. It was really no contest. Marshall Faulk vowed to steal the spotlight and play the whole game this time, but he came up short because the ’Dogs have too many weapons. But give him credit. He almost singlehandedly brought the Aztecs back in the game when they closed to 35-30 late in the third quarter.
That was when the ’Dogs finally came through. Dilfer ensured his NFL status by taking FSU on four nicely-done drives. In all that, his coolness was the trademark.
No penalties, no confusion and no mistakes were made. Just basic execution and a crunching running game as Rivers and Daigle took over.
This was Dilfer’s night--maybe his last at Bulldog Stadium. So he did what any QB bound for the pros would do--made it a great one. From what I see, Dilfer is headed for Cincinnati in 1994 given the Bengals just keep on losing.
Why Cincinnati? Because Dilfer has nothing left to prove. In just two short years, he has been maybe the biggest gun in the country leading the best offense, helped get the ’Dogs program into national prominence with big wins, and gained media attention going for the Heisman Trophy.
Dilfer won’t win, but missing out on that trophy is one of the few things that wouldn’t have gone his way this year. And the ’Dogs are back.
The Red Wave can relax with the best offense putting up points, and the defense has improved, which is why they should make it two straight impressive bowl wins.
Decorated wrestler starts career
November 17. 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
For a guy who was a fugitive in high school, Keith Richards has had a relatively stable, winning wrestling career.
The promising newcomer has yet to begin his career at Fresno State, but he comes in with this glowing record: four state championships in four years in high school.
If that’s not enough, try this: He won all his titles attending four different high schools in four years--in two different states.
Still not enough? He had only three losses in his high school career--backed by 170 wins.
Richards redshirted last year and has now taken his place in the Bulldog starting lineup at the 158-pound spot. Head Coach Dennis DeLiddo says it’s just a preview of things to come.
"With guys like Keith, my job’s a little easier. He’s the kind of wrestler that if he does well, the whole team will do well," DeLiddo said.
The Trinidad-born Richards prepped in Oklahoma his first three years before moving to San Jose for his senior season. He wrestled at Monroney, Midwest City, and Douglas High in Oklahoma City his freshman, sophomore and junior years. As a senior, he wrestled at Mission High in San Jose.
The reasons why he moved around so much?
"My parents moved around a lot. Especially my mom. She moved around and I just followed. But that didn’t stop me from doing the best I could do wherever I went."
Do four more championships wait in his Fresno State future? Richards hopes so, but downplays the pressure brought on by his past success.
"No, it’s not the same, because college is so much different from high school," he said. "Winning four straight was great, but it reall doesn’t matter much now."
Richards cemented his starting spot--and a spot on the team--by impressing at last week’s intrasquad meet.
"That’s the beginning," he said. "You have to make the team before you can be everybody’s All-American."
Richards doesn’t have any Division I experience yet, but DeLiddo sees great potential in him.
"Too many people think that if you’re young at this level, you can’t be any good. I don’t believe in that. We’ll be young this year, but Keith can be one that keeps us in the hunt. He looks to have a real good freshman season."
In the year he spent redshirting, Richards has learned that the difference between high school and college wrestling is night and day.
"In high school, it was easier to intimidate people to succeed and I was head and shoulders above the rest. Here (at Fresno), you have to work on how to beat an opponent and have your moves down pat or you’ll be humbled real quick. Also, up here you’ll never get to the point that you’re too good. Everybody has the same potential and talent you have."
Richards said he was attracted to FSU by the tradition the program holds.
"Everybody here seemed to be a two-time state champion and All-American," he said. "Here we have a lot of guys who maybe are just starting their careers (at FSU) but have been doing this since they were growing up."
Competition between wrestlers means you can tell a lot about who will win and who will lose, according to Richards.
"There’s a lot of tenacity when you step onto that mat," said Richards. "It comes down to who’s the meanest and who wants it the most. If you have a good move, you can stay with that.
Usually, it’s best to change your style, according to who you’ll compete against." He credited DeLiddo for having a program where wrestlers are responsible for their moves both on and off the mat.
"DeLiddo is the best coach I have ever had," he said. "And I’ve had a lot of coaches. He helps me realize that I have to have a game plan to beat somebody that’s tough to beat. In high school I pretty much did things on my own. I can’t fire from the hip anymore."
"He doesn’t so much as coach as he watches over us and makes sure that we do things right in practice and in meets. And he’ll watch you. He’ll make you go to class--he’ll show up at your class to make sure you show up. And if you don’t, you’ll get a call in a minute."
What will be going through Richards’ head when he takes the mat for the first time at Division I?
"How much I want it, how much I want to win, and how much I want to beat the other guy," he said. "I’ll be relaxed and calm. I’ve been working hard to get this, and it’ll be just another day. I’m going to win a lot of matches and gain my position in the ranks."
Satterwhite makes good things happen
October 17, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Meet Davon Satterwhite and Carl Ray Harris, the Fresno State basketball flying circus.
Most of the attention to this year’s Bulldog hoopsters has gone to Harris, a senior who sat out last year to concentrate on academics. Now that he returns, he finds himself with a strong supporting cast backed with contributors like Satterwhite.
Satterwhite, a hard-working aggressive guard, always seems to be making good things happen for the ’Dogs. He may not attract the spotlight Harris loves, but he is the sort of unsung sparkplug every championship team must have.
"Davon can have a pretty good year," head coach Gary Colson said, indicating that Satterwhite has a shot at starting in the Bulldog backcourt if regulars Seth Marshall, Brian Santiago and Harris slip.
This three-guard rotation, plus Satterwhite, give the Bulldogs depth, versatility and strength for 1993-94. Seven of the top eight Bulldog scorers from last year return.
Said Colson, "We have big returning experience and we can break the losing cycle."
What Satterwhite does best is shoot the ball, specifically from 19 feet, nine inches and beyond to make three pointers.
"Davon is a proven scorer and he can also play defense," Colson said.
Last year, the junior from Tyler, Texas led the Bulldogs in three-point shooting, hitting at a 44 percent clip. He sank 45 of 101 baskets from that distance and finished third in the WAC in that department.
"I improved my shooting by working on free throws and three pointers after every practice," Satterwhite said. "Coming here (Fresno), I needed to learn the system and how to play in it. I just worked to get my confidence so that now when I have an open shot in a game, I’ll take it and I’ll hit it."
It’s a lot easier when you play in an offense that emphasizes high scoring and involvement. The FSU game plan is an up-tempo entertaining one that Colson loves.
"Nobody stands around waiting to shoot or watching someone else carry the load. Everybody gets equal opportunity," Satterwhite said.
Last year, Satterwhite had a 20-point game against San Diego State and averaged 11.3 points over the last 12 games.
Satterwhite excels in coming off the bench to provide instant offense for the ’Dogs. His clutch shooting can give FSU a commanding lead or pull them right back into a game, a Race Express discovered Tuesday night.
The run-and-gun Bulldogs like to push the ball up the court whenever possible, and Race Express found themselves outmanned in a 108-84 high-scoring ’Dog victory. Satterwhite came off the bench to get 10 points and make a claim for a starting spot.
Satterwhite has played a promising role in the past two years as a prominent sixth-man. He is in the Bulldogs plans despite being clouded by the deep personnel they possess.
"Consistency is the key for Davon," Colson said. He’s in our plans to compete this year."
Satterwhite would like to upgrade his defensive play in order to stay in the Bulldogs’ plans.
"Offense scores points, but defense wins games. Offense wins games, but defense wins championships," he said.
"And that’s our goal--win a championship and take it one step a time. This year I hope we do better. We didn’t do so hot and made too many mistakes such as not pulling together as a team."
Colson’s offense, which features an unorthodox lineup in order to best utilize personnel, will be out to change that this year.
The three guards, Harris, Santiago and Marshall, combined for 43 points Tuesday night in the opening win.
"We want to keep our eyes on the big picture," Colson said, who is setting his sights on the WAC Tournament in March at Salt Lake City.
"It’s important to set the tone early and strive," he added.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Meet Davon Satterwhite and Carl Ray Harris, the Fresno State basketball flying circus.
Most of the attention to this year’s Bulldog hoopsters has gone to Harris, a senior who sat out last year to concentrate on academics. Now that he returns, he finds himself with a strong supporting cast backed with contributors like Satterwhite.
Satterwhite, a hard-working aggressive guard, always seems to be making good things happen for the ’Dogs. He may not attract the spotlight Harris loves, but he is the sort of unsung sparkplug every championship team must have.
"Davon can have a pretty good year," head coach Gary Colson said, indicating that Satterwhite has a shot at starting in the Bulldog backcourt if regulars Seth Marshall, Brian Santiago and Harris slip.
This three-guard rotation, plus Satterwhite, give the Bulldogs depth, versatility and strength for 1993-94. Seven of the top eight Bulldog scorers from last year return.
Said Colson, "We have big returning experience and we can break the losing cycle."
What Satterwhite does best is shoot the ball, specifically from 19 feet, nine inches and beyond to make three pointers.
"Davon is a proven scorer and he can also play defense," Colson said.
Last year, the junior from Tyler, Texas led the Bulldogs in three-point shooting, hitting at a 44 percent clip. He sank 45 of 101 baskets from that distance and finished third in the WAC in that department.
"I improved my shooting by working on free throws and three pointers after every practice," Satterwhite said. "Coming here (Fresno), I needed to learn the system and how to play in it. I just worked to get my confidence so that now when I have an open shot in a game, I’ll take it and I’ll hit it."
It’s a lot easier when you play in an offense that emphasizes high scoring and involvement. The FSU game plan is an up-tempo entertaining one that Colson loves.
"Nobody stands around waiting to shoot or watching someone else carry the load. Everybody gets equal opportunity," Satterwhite said.
Last year, Satterwhite had a 20-point game against San Diego State and averaged 11.3 points over the last 12 games.
Satterwhite excels in coming off the bench to provide instant offense for the ’Dogs. His clutch shooting can give FSU a commanding lead or pull them right back into a game, a Race Express discovered Tuesday night.
The run-and-gun Bulldogs like to push the ball up the court whenever possible, and Race Express found themselves outmanned in a 108-84 high-scoring ’Dog victory. Satterwhite came off the bench to get 10 points and make a claim for a starting spot.
Satterwhite has played a promising role in the past two years as a prominent sixth-man. He is in the Bulldogs plans despite being clouded by the deep personnel they possess.
"Consistency is the key for Davon," Colson said. He’s in our plans to compete this year."
Satterwhite would like to upgrade his defensive play in order to stay in the Bulldogs’ plans.
"Offense scores points, but defense wins games. Offense wins games, but defense wins championships," he said.
"And that’s our goal--win a championship and take it one step a time. This year I hope we do better. We didn’t do so hot and made too many mistakes such as not pulling together as a team."
Colson’s offense, which features an unorthodox lineup in order to best utilize personnel, will be out to change that this year.
The three guards, Harris, Santiago and Marshall, combined for 43 points Tuesday night in the opening win.
"We want to keep our eyes on the big picture," Colson said, who is setting his sights on the WAC Tournament in March at Salt Lake City.
"It’s important to set the tone early and strive," he added.
Edwards is a model of stability for FSU
Fall 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The saying goes, a good offense is always the best defense.
Not true for high-scoring Fresno State football, whose well-documented offense is capable of scoring in bunches but has a much-maligned defense.
If the Bulldogs want to get the rankings they deserve, they’ll have to learn how to stop people. Demetrius Edwards, a junior noseguard, has been a step in that slow process.
"I’m very proud of Demetrius," said head coach Jim Sweeney. "He has been a rock for us, a model of stability on our defensive front."
Edwards has faced the challenge of replacing last year’s senior standout Zach Rix.
"Those were awfully big shoes to fill," said Sweeney. "He’s done a tremendous job."
In last week’s 30-10 romp over UTEP, Edwards has 13 tackles, a career best. He has 55 total tackles going into Saturday’s tilt with Hawaii at Bulldog Stadium.
Edwards has started seven of the nine Bulldog games this season. He has put together one of the Bulldogs’ more solid defensive performances.
Edwards has 31 unassisted and 23 assisted tackles on the season, along with one tackle for a loss. He also has one recovered fumble and two pass deflections.
That adds up to 132 defensive points, 10th on the Bulldog list this season.
Fresno State’s defense has been roundly criticized, however, for its inability to protect big leads and put opponents away. The ’Dogs are giving up 201 passing yards, 230 rushing yards and 27 points a game.
FSU’s defense has surrendered 251 points on the season and ranks eighth overall in the WAC. While their third-ranked pass defense is solid, the ’Dogs are horrendous at stopping the run, ranking ninth.
"The key is playing for four quarters, with discipline and control," said Edwards. Edwards also said that the ’Dogs success against option teams has prepared them well for Hawaii.
"Our defense has done well against the option," said Edwards. "We’ve just got to concentrate on the task. That’s exactly what we need to win."
Sweeney said he welcomed Hawaii’s wide-open, daring offense compared to other teams’ grind-it-out approach that has stymied the ’Dogs scoring production.
"They have a lot of athleticism that matches up well with us," said Sweeney. "But they don’t have the defensive people they had in the past. They’re just not the same team they used to be."
"It’s unfair to think that we have an elixir to completely stop a run-dominated option offense anymore than they have the pieces put together to stop our offense."
Sweeney added: "The option and wishbone teams don’t just bother us, they’re a pain in the neck to everybody."
The Bulldogs met the Rainbows last year in Hawaii and lost a heartbreaker, 47-45. Edwards, meanwhile, wants to write a happier ending to the 1993 script. He has been hampered by a bad ankle but hopes to be at full strength for the Rainbows.
"He’s played through it well," said Sweeney. "We want to get him healthy enough to run better."
"I feel good right now," said Edwards: "I’m kind of banged up, but that’s how I feel after every game. And that’s how it should be. I feel that if you don’t feel like you left everything on the field, then you didn’t give it all you had."
"Things are going better for me; I’ve gotten better. What I want, though, is to get better for Saturday."
Edwards said that the ’Dogs plan to take it one step at a time.
"This is just another step in which we’re trying to get to a bowl," said Edwards. "Our spirits are high, but we’re not looking ahead to anything or jumping the gun."
"We win these next two games (against Hawaii and San Diego State), we should have a bowl game locked down. We can’t determine, but we should go to a good one."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The saying goes, a good offense is always the best defense.
Not true for high-scoring Fresno State football, whose well-documented offense is capable of scoring in bunches but has a much-maligned defense.
If the Bulldogs want to get the rankings they deserve, they’ll have to learn how to stop people. Demetrius Edwards, a junior noseguard, has been a step in that slow process.
"I’m very proud of Demetrius," said head coach Jim Sweeney. "He has been a rock for us, a model of stability on our defensive front."
Edwards has faced the challenge of replacing last year’s senior standout Zach Rix.
"Those were awfully big shoes to fill," said Sweeney. "He’s done a tremendous job."
In last week’s 30-10 romp over UTEP, Edwards has 13 tackles, a career best. He has 55 total tackles going into Saturday’s tilt with Hawaii at Bulldog Stadium.
Edwards has started seven of the nine Bulldog games this season. He has put together one of the Bulldogs’ more solid defensive performances.
Edwards has 31 unassisted and 23 assisted tackles on the season, along with one tackle for a loss. He also has one recovered fumble and two pass deflections.
That adds up to 132 defensive points, 10th on the Bulldog list this season.
Fresno State’s defense has been roundly criticized, however, for its inability to protect big leads and put opponents away. The ’Dogs are giving up 201 passing yards, 230 rushing yards and 27 points a game.
FSU’s defense has surrendered 251 points on the season and ranks eighth overall in the WAC. While their third-ranked pass defense is solid, the ’Dogs are horrendous at stopping the run, ranking ninth.
"The key is playing for four quarters, with discipline and control," said Edwards. Edwards also said that the ’Dogs success against option teams has prepared them well for Hawaii.
"Our defense has done well against the option," said Edwards. "We’ve just got to concentrate on the task. That’s exactly what we need to win."
Sweeney said he welcomed Hawaii’s wide-open, daring offense compared to other teams’ grind-it-out approach that has stymied the ’Dogs scoring production.
"They have a lot of athleticism that matches up well with us," said Sweeney. "But they don’t have the defensive people they had in the past. They’re just not the same team they used to be."
"It’s unfair to think that we have an elixir to completely stop a run-dominated option offense anymore than they have the pieces put together to stop our offense."
Sweeney added: "The option and wishbone teams don’t just bother us, they’re a pain in the neck to everybody."
The Bulldogs met the Rainbows last year in Hawaii and lost a heartbreaker, 47-45. Edwards, meanwhile, wants to write a happier ending to the 1993 script. He has been hampered by a bad ankle but hopes to be at full strength for the Rainbows.
"He’s played through it well," said Sweeney. "We want to get him healthy enough to run better."
"I feel good right now," said Edwards: "I’m kind of banged up, but that’s how I feel after every game. And that’s how it should be. I feel that if you don’t feel like you left everything on the field, then you didn’t give it all you had."
"Things are going better for me; I’ve gotten better. What I want, though, is to get better for Saturday."
Edwards said that the ’Dogs plan to take it one step at a time.
"This is just another step in which we’re trying to get to a bowl," said Edwards. "Our spirits are high, but we’re not looking ahead to anything or jumping the gun."
"We win these next two games (against Hawaii and San Diego State), we should have a bowl game locked down. We can’t determine, but we should go to a good one."
Kramer finds his niche in soccer
Fall 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
David Kramer, the wunderkind Bulldog goalie, could have been the quarterback. But football didn’t have it for him.
He could have made a sparkling third baseman, but baseball didn’t hold much passion for him.
He could have been a great point guard, but basketball didn’t have an all-consuming interest.
But Kramer has played goalkeeper for more than 10 years as if he was possessed by the will to win. And now he doesn’t have any qualms about stopping a breakaway threat or a 100 mile-an-hour shot.
"Yeah, I played all that other stuff," said Kramer. "But once I reached high school, it was time to concentrate on soccer."
It’s a good thing for Fresno State that he did.
In 19 games for the 13th-ranked Bulldogs, Kramer had 84 saves while giving up just 22 goals. That was good enough for a paltry 1.03 goals-per-game average for opponents. It was also good enough for the ’Dogs to finish the season 12-4-3.
"In my estimation, he’s one of the top goalkeepers in the area," head coach John Bluem said. "David can keep you in the game with big saves at critical moments. He handles all situations with confidence."
Kramer’s great skill in handling the goalie box was one of many reasons for the Bulldog turnaround this year.
"He throws long on saves, and he has a quick punt," Bluem said. "He can also punt it long distances. That has helped win our counterattacks."
Kramer showed his heady play in Sunday’s tie against San Jose State. He was credited with an assist on a Sterling Wescott goal that proved to be the equalizer in the deadlock.
After the save, Kramer quickly kicked the ball the length of the field taking one bounce. Wescott caught up to it and scored with a header on the hop.
The two had performed virtually the same play in mid-September against University of San Francisco. FSU won the game on it, 5-4. Those are Kramer’s two assists in his Bulldog career. Fittingly, they tied or provided the ’Dogs with the lead.
Said Bluem on those plays: "David likes to look for Wescott with his passes."
"You only get the ball maybe four or five times a game," Kramer said. "Those other 80 minutes, you have to be ready for those one or two times they’re looking to score."
"It’s a tough position. You’re put on the spot. You have to prove you can come through and stop the ball in a pressure situation."
Kramer’s leadership through action has endeared him to the ’Dogs and earned him a co-captain title.
"He’s very quiet, but a good leader," Bluem said. "And he’s an inspirational player."
An experienced three-year FSU letterman, Kramer is especially adept at organizing and directing the ’Dogs defensive schemes.
His 21 career shutouts are the third-best in Bulldog soccer history. One more will put him in second place behind Kirk Shermer on the all-time list.
"He can inspire not with words, but with saves," said Bluem. "When he comes up with a save, it lifts everybody. We know that if someone gets behind our defense, Dave will shut them down."
That’s all well and good, but what happens when the ball gets into the net?
"David is a very good mental and pressure player," Bluem said. "He never lets down with concentration mistakes. He’s experienced, reliable, and a safekeeper. The last two points are the most important."
So how did Fresno State get its hands on such a valuable keeper?
"I played in all sports," said Kramer. "I’ve been playing soccer since I could remember."
An injury as a 12-year-old moved him into the goalie box, where he’s remained ever since.
"I got hurt with a torn hamstring, so I moved to goalie because I couldn’t run. And I just started liking it."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
David Kramer, the wunderkind Bulldog goalie, could have been the quarterback. But football didn’t have it for him.
He could have made a sparkling third baseman, but baseball didn’t hold much passion for him.
He could have been a great point guard, but basketball didn’t have an all-consuming interest.
But Kramer has played goalkeeper for more than 10 years as if he was possessed by the will to win. And now he doesn’t have any qualms about stopping a breakaway threat or a 100 mile-an-hour shot.
"Yeah, I played all that other stuff," said Kramer. "But once I reached high school, it was time to concentrate on soccer."
It’s a good thing for Fresno State that he did.
In 19 games for the 13th-ranked Bulldogs, Kramer had 84 saves while giving up just 22 goals. That was good enough for a paltry 1.03 goals-per-game average for opponents. It was also good enough for the ’Dogs to finish the season 12-4-3.
"In my estimation, he’s one of the top goalkeepers in the area," head coach John Bluem said. "David can keep you in the game with big saves at critical moments. He handles all situations with confidence."
Kramer’s great skill in handling the goalie box was one of many reasons for the Bulldog turnaround this year.
"He throws long on saves, and he has a quick punt," Bluem said. "He can also punt it long distances. That has helped win our counterattacks."
Kramer showed his heady play in Sunday’s tie against San Jose State. He was credited with an assist on a Sterling Wescott goal that proved to be the equalizer in the deadlock.
After the save, Kramer quickly kicked the ball the length of the field taking one bounce. Wescott caught up to it and scored with a header on the hop.
The two had performed virtually the same play in mid-September against University of San Francisco. FSU won the game on it, 5-4. Those are Kramer’s two assists in his Bulldog career. Fittingly, they tied or provided the ’Dogs with the lead.
Said Bluem on those plays: "David likes to look for Wescott with his passes."
"You only get the ball maybe four or five times a game," Kramer said. "Those other 80 minutes, you have to be ready for those one or two times they’re looking to score."
"It’s a tough position. You’re put on the spot. You have to prove you can come through and stop the ball in a pressure situation."
Kramer’s leadership through action has endeared him to the ’Dogs and earned him a co-captain title.
"He’s very quiet, but a good leader," Bluem said. "And he’s an inspirational player."
An experienced three-year FSU letterman, Kramer is especially adept at organizing and directing the ’Dogs defensive schemes.
His 21 career shutouts are the third-best in Bulldog soccer history. One more will put him in second place behind Kirk Shermer on the all-time list.
"He can inspire not with words, but with saves," said Bluem. "When he comes up with a save, it lifts everybody. We know that if someone gets behind our defense, Dave will shut them down."
That’s all well and good, but what happens when the ball gets into the net?
"David is a very good mental and pressure player," Bluem said. "He never lets down with concentration mistakes. He’s experienced, reliable, and a safekeeper. The last two points are the most important."
So how did Fresno State get its hands on such a valuable keeper?
"I played in all sports," said Kramer. "I’ve been playing soccer since I could remember."
An injury as a 12-year-old moved him into the goalie box, where he’s remained ever since.
"I got hurt with a torn hamstring, so I moved to goalie because I couldn’t run. And I just started liking it."
Soccer 'Dogs lose in overtime
October 29, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
In the end, the 13th-ranked ’Dogs were stopped by a post.
Fresno State’s senior soccer standouts wanted to make it a memorable Thursday night against Santa Clara, their last at Bulldog Stadium.
Instead, ’Dogs Ryan Tinsley, Donovan Martinez and Sterling Wescott had to endure a stinging 2-1 loss in overtime.
The winning goal was particularly crushing to the Bulldogs as it came with 37 seconds left in the second overtime period.
Just five minutes earlier, FSU had a chance to go ahead but the shot bounced off the left goalpost. It was their last serious threat.
"It was a bitter disappointment," FSU head coach John Bluem said. "We outplayed them."
Despite losing stars Mario Sanchez and Sterling Wescott to injuries early in the contest, the ’Dogs stayed tough in a physical game.
Chuck Lively opened the scoring early in the second half with an 18-yard shot to put FSU ahead 1-0.
It took only five minutes for SCU to answer back. Joe Cullan was able to tie it up when he beat ’Dog keeper David Kramer on a short goal.
SCU’s persistent, in-your-face defense created trouble every which way for the Bulldogs, accustomed to setting the tempo on offense.
The Bulldogs spent most of the second half and overtime periods battling in SCU territory, but were unable to make headway against a rough-and-tumble Bronco defense.
Grant Schick provided the winning margin when he propelled a shot past Kramer with 37 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.
"We were so unlucky to lose this game," said Bluem. As good as (SCU) is, we’re a much better team."
The loss damaged FSU’s hopes for a MPSF playoff bid. The ’Dogs must defeat San Jose State on Sunday in order to keep themselves alive.
Fresno State also needs losses or ties by Stanford and Oregon State.
"We had our chances, but didn’t capitalize," Bluem said. "I can’t say enough about our effort tonight. We did everything but win."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
In the end, the 13th-ranked ’Dogs were stopped by a post.
Fresno State’s senior soccer standouts wanted to make it a memorable Thursday night against Santa Clara, their last at Bulldog Stadium.
Instead, ’Dogs Ryan Tinsley, Donovan Martinez and Sterling Wescott had to endure a stinging 2-1 loss in overtime.
The winning goal was particularly crushing to the Bulldogs as it came with 37 seconds left in the second overtime period.
Just five minutes earlier, FSU had a chance to go ahead but the shot bounced off the left goalpost. It was their last serious threat.
"It was a bitter disappointment," FSU head coach John Bluem said. "We outplayed them."
Despite losing stars Mario Sanchez and Sterling Wescott to injuries early in the contest, the ’Dogs stayed tough in a physical game.
Chuck Lively opened the scoring early in the second half with an 18-yard shot to put FSU ahead 1-0.
It took only five minutes for SCU to answer back. Joe Cullan was able to tie it up when he beat ’Dog keeper David Kramer on a short goal.
SCU’s persistent, in-your-face defense created trouble every which way for the Bulldogs, accustomed to setting the tempo on offense.
The Bulldogs spent most of the second half and overtime periods battling in SCU territory, but were unable to make headway against a rough-and-tumble Bronco defense.
Grant Schick provided the winning margin when he propelled a shot past Kramer with 37 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.
"We were so unlucky to lose this game," said Bluem. As good as (SCU) is, we’re a much better team."
The loss damaged FSU’s hopes for a MPSF playoff bid. The ’Dogs must defeat San Jose State on Sunday in order to keep themselves alive.
Fresno State also needs losses or ties by Stanford and Oregon State.
"We had our chances, but didn’t capitalize," Bluem said. "I can’t say enough about our effort tonight. We did everything but win."
FSU "Joneses" for big plays
Fall 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
From Charlie Jones’ trick plays to Tommy Jones’ leadership and stability on defense, Fresno State football has had a serious "Jones" for big plays in 1993.
Opponents, however, are struggling in vain to simply keep up with the Joneses.
Despite the flashy offense provided by Tommy’s brother, Bulldog insiders will tell you that the key to FSU’s Holiday Bowl hopes rest on the defense.
"I have to play a better game than I did last week," said the elder Jones. "I played a good game last week, but I know I can play better. I haven’t had my best game yet."
Last Saturday, Jones proved his worth as he held BYU’s receiving tandem in check as the Bulldogs came away with a rousing 48-45 win.
Jones’ quick speed at cornerback proved to be too much for the Cougars’ prized possession receivers--Tyler Anderson and Eric Drage--to overcome. He consistently blunted BYU’s attempts to steal the win with five tackles and two knockdowns, all the while pressuring the Cougar wideouts.
"Tommy did a key job in that game in Provo," said head coach Jim Sweeney. "Not that he played perfect--in the secondary that’s hard to do. He’s had even better games."
"But early on, he was strong against the run and took away their sweep. He’s made tremendous contributions for us."
Jones, a 5-9, 175-pounder from Lemoore, said he wanted to play wide receiver when he first arrived at FSU, but Sweeney switched him to the defensive backfield.
"Tommy wanted to play receiver, but he is a much more intelligent player at stopping people," Sweeney said.
Jones spent two years at the College of the Sequoias and set game, season and career records for receptions prior to making smooth transition to Bulldog football.
"He’s a team guy, a team-above-all player," said Sweeney. I’ve always been in Tommy’s corner. He’s done an outstanding job."
This Saturday, the Bulldogs meet their biggest test as they take on Wyoming in Laramie. The Cowboys are 4-0 in WAC play. FSU is 3-1 and needs a win to stay in the WAC title hunt.
"The road to the Holiday Bowl goes through Laramie," said Sweeney. "They’ll be jacked up. I don’t think we’ve played our best football yet, but we showed great improvement last week."
Meanwhile Jones will undergo another test as he will match up against Cowboy receiver Ryan Yarborough. The Wyoming receiver is the nation’s leader in receiving yardage with 154.7 yards a game. Yarborough has caught 45 passes this season for 1,083 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is also averaging a mind-boggling 24.4 yards a reception and has caught a pass in 31 consecutive games. He holds every Cowboy record in the receiving record books.
But Jones isn’t worried about having to cover Yarborough. "Ryan’s a good wideout," he said. "But we’ve played against good passing teams. We’re not panicking. We’ve been playing against this competition all year long."
"We go against better wideouts every day in practice," he said, noting the big-play ’Dog offense.
"As far as I’m concerned, we’ll be playing more of the same."
"As a defense, we’ve learned from our mistakes. Against Baylor and Colorado State, we got too relaxed and let up. It’s gotta be a four-quarter effort from now on, and that’s what coach stresses every day."
Jones and the Bulldogs won’t kid themselves about the task they face in Poke Country on Saturday. "It’ll be cold, and it’s gonna be a tough game," said Jones. "We know what we have to do to get to the Holiday Bowl, and that is to get past Wyoming."
"We’ve got to bring our minds and hearts and play football on both sides of the ball," said Sweeney. "We want to reinstill our confidence."
Does Jones envision a pro career someday? "I’m gonna try to get there (in the NFL)," he said. That’s one of my goals. It’s everybody’s goal to get there one day. I just have to use my God-given talent and see what happens."
Jones can usually be seen strutting around these days wearing a Minnesota Vikings hat. Does he see himself adding to the Purple People legend?
"No, my favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers," he says. "But I really don’t care who I play for. I’ll play for an expansion team if they give me a shot. If I get a chance to play in the NFL, I think I can make it."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
From Charlie Jones’ trick plays to Tommy Jones’ leadership and stability on defense, Fresno State football has had a serious "Jones" for big plays in 1993.
Opponents, however, are struggling in vain to simply keep up with the Joneses.
Despite the flashy offense provided by Tommy’s brother, Bulldog insiders will tell you that the key to FSU’s Holiday Bowl hopes rest on the defense.
"I have to play a better game than I did last week," said the elder Jones. "I played a good game last week, but I know I can play better. I haven’t had my best game yet."
Last Saturday, Jones proved his worth as he held BYU’s receiving tandem in check as the Bulldogs came away with a rousing 48-45 win.
Jones’ quick speed at cornerback proved to be too much for the Cougars’ prized possession receivers--Tyler Anderson and Eric Drage--to overcome. He consistently blunted BYU’s attempts to steal the win with five tackles and two knockdowns, all the while pressuring the Cougar wideouts.
"Tommy did a key job in that game in Provo," said head coach Jim Sweeney. "Not that he played perfect--in the secondary that’s hard to do. He’s had even better games."
"But early on, he was strong against the run and took away their sweep. He’s made tremendous contributions for us."
Jones, a 5-9, 175-pounder from Lemoore, said he wanted to play wide receiver when he first arrived at FSU, but Sweeney switched him to the defensive backfield.
"Tommy wanted to play receiver, but he is a much more intelligent player at stopping people," Sweeney said.
Jones spent two years at the College of the Sequoias and set game, season and career records for receptions prior to making smooth transition to Bulldog football.
"He’s a team guy, a team-above-all player," said Sweeney. I’ve always been in Tommy’s corner. He’s done an outstanding job."
This Saturday, the Bulldogs meet their biggest test as they take on Wyoming in Laramie. The Cowboys are 4-0 in WAC play. FSU is 3-1 and needs a win to stay in the WAC title hunt.
"The road to the Holiday Bowl goes through Laramie," said Sweeney. "They’ll be jacked up. I don’t think we’ve played our best football yet, but we showed great improvement last week."
Meanwhile Jones will undergo another test as he will match up against Cowboy receiver Ryan Yarborough. The Wyoming receiver is the nation’s leader in receiving yardage with 154.7 yards a game. Yarborough has caught 45 passes this season for 1,083 yards and 11 touchdowns. He is also averaging a mind-boggling 24.4 yards a reception and has caught a pass in 31 consecutive games. He holds every Cowboy record in the receiving record books.
But Jones isn’t worried about having to cover Yarborough. "Ryan’s a good wideout," he said. "But we’ve played against good passing teams. We’re not panicking. We’ve been playing against this competition all year long."
"We go against better wideouts every day in practice," he said, noting the big-play ’Dog offense.
"As far as I’m concerned, we’ll be playing more of the same."
"As a defense, we’ve learned from our mistakes. Against Baylor and Colorado State, we got too relaxed and let up. It’s gotta be a four-quarter effort from now on, and that’s what coach stresses every day."
Jones and the Bulldogs won’t kid themselves about the task they face in Poke Country on Saturday. "It’ll be cold, and it’s gonna be a tough game," said Jones. "We know what we have to do to get to the Holiday Bowl, and that is to get past Wyoming."
"We’ve got to bring our minds and hearts and play football on both sides of the ball," said Sweeney. "We want to reinstill our confidence."
Does Jones envision a pro career someday? "I’m gonna try to get there (in the NFL)," he said. That’s one of my goals. It’s everybody’s goal to get there one day. I just have to use my God-given talent and see what happens."
Jones can usually be seen strutting around these days wearing a Minnesota Vikings hat. Does he see himself adding to the Purple People legend?
"No, my favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers," he says. "But I really don’t care who I play for. I’ll play for an expansion team if they give me a shot. If I get a chance to play in the NFL, I think I can make it."
Freshmen continue to star for Sweeney
October 18, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Saturday night was a night when several young Bulldogs continued to standout. True freshmen Omar Stoutmire, A.J. Gass, and Shatony Sargeant all made big impacts.
Stoutmire, a safety, caused one fumble, recovered another, and had a key interception. Gass, a linebacker, caused another fumble. Sargeant blocked a field goal in the second quarter and redshirt freshman Leroy Colbert did his part by forcing two fumbles. FSU put 20 points on the board in the first half from takeaways.
"We had a tough week in practice," said Stoutmire. "If coach Sweeney couldn’t motivate us to win this week, then nothing was going to happen."
Sweeney took his hat off to the young ’Dogs. "Those were real hits there, real rips. Our defense did a great job of getting the ball back for us."
Dilfer runs streak to 123
Trent Dilfer wasn’t particularly dazzling, but he didn’t make mistakes either. While he was held to only 166 yards passing and no touchdowns, he also had no interceptions. Dilfer hasn’t been picked off in the last four games, covering 123 pass attempts.
Rivers runs for 100, again
Ron Rivers just keeps on running and is showing no signs of slowing down. Rivers made it four of six games this season rushing for 100 yards. He rushed for 135 yards on 16 carries and scored the final TD of the game.
Rivers now has 729 yards on the year. FSU is 14-0 in Rivers’ Bulldog career when he rushes for 100 yards or more.
Bulldogs get tricky
Charlie Jones scored when David Dunn hit him with a TD pass on a wide receiver option play.
"Coach Sweeney emphasizes the big play, and they turned out to be touchdowns," said Jones.
Dunn threw a pass for the second time this season. "I could have ran it, but I saw Jones open," he said.
Said Sweeney: "Our acrobats did a great job."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Saturday night was a night when several young Bulldogs continued to standout. True freshmen Omar Stoutmire, A.J. Gass, and Shatony Sargeant all made big impacts.
Stoutmire, a safety, caused one fumble, recovered another, and had a key interception. Gass, a linebacker, caused another fumble. Sargeant blocked a field goal in the second quarter and redshirt freshman Leroy Colbert did his part by forcing two fumbles. FSU put 20 points on the board in the first half from takeaways.
"We had a tough week in practice," said Stoutmire. "If coach Sweeney couldn’t motivate us to win this week, then nothing was going to happen."
Sweeney took his hat off to the young ’Dogs. "Those were real hits there, real rips. Our defense did a great job of getting the ball back for us."
Dilfer runs streak to 123
Trent Dilfer wasn’t particularly dazzling, but he didn’t make mistakes either. While he was held to only 166 yards passing and no touchdowns, he also had no interceptions. Dilfer hasn’t been picked off in the last four games, covering 123 pass attempts.
Rivers runs for 100, again
Ron Rivers just keeps on running and is showing no signs of slowing down. Rivers made it four of six games this season rushing for 100 yards. He rushed for 135 yards on 16 carries and scored the final TD of the game.
Rivers now has 729 yards on the year. FSU is 14-0 in Rivers’ Bulldog career when he rushes for 100 yards or more.
Bulldogs get tricky
Charlie Jones scored when David Dunn hit him with a TD pass on a wide receiver option play.
"Coach Sweeney emphasizes the big play, and they turned out to be touchdowns," said Jones.
Dunn threw a pass for the second time this season. "I could have ran it, but I saw Jones open," he said.
Said Sweeney: "Our acrobats did a great job."
Seven-footer arrives at FSU
October 14, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Twas the dawn of the 1993-94 season and the ’Dogs were stirring. But no one had a grim outlook, not even Gary Colson.
Visions of a Bulldog juggernaut have been dancing in the heads of long-suffering FSU basketball fans.
Dear St. Nick, they said. You were supposed to bring us a big man.
And that big man has arrived in a seven-foot, 260-pouind package. Could Anthony Pelle be the big man that Bulldog basketball has long awaited?
Pelle, a senior transfer from Villanova, plans to make the biggest impact on FSU roundball in years. He has all the skills a big man could want--size, speed, quickness and a mean streak to match. He is also a true seven-footer.
"This year, I hope everybody plays and works together," Pelle said. "Next year, it’s gonna be fun."
Next year is when Pelle will be in action. As a player with three years already under his belt by arriving at FSU, he must meet NCAA requirements and sit out this year as a redshirt.
That’s the only negative for FSU fans. But when he does come back the next year, he will have already made the Bulldogs stronger.
Colson can’t be faulted for treating Pelle like the concealed weapon he is. This season, Pelle will practice with the squad although he will not appear on the active roster or play in any games.
"Sure, he will make an impact," Colson said. "By practicing against him every day, we’ll learn his killer instinct. He’s had experience playing against the cutthroat Big East opponents like Mutombo and Mourning."
Mutombo is now with the Denver Nuggets and Alonzo Mourning was a rookie last year with the Charlotte Hornets.
"He will definitely help us in practice," Colson continued. "He has the possibility to be the best big man we have had here."
Assistant Jim Saia said the key to Pelle’s development will be his training this season.
"He’s got two years to do it," Saia said. "This season, he has to get in shape and be ready to play in our system. Off the court, he looks like a talent. But he’s got to produce and show results, and do it on the floor."
Pelle has no problem with that.
"I just want to go out and play," he said bluntly. "I don’t want to miss any time."
As bright a prospect as he looks for FSU, it comes with a shock that he was riding the bench at Villanova. It was suspected that he left the Wildcat program over playing time disputes.
"I wasn’t getting any playing time," said Pelle. "Not a little bit, not that it wasn’t what I wanted. I just wasn’t getting any."
"I don’t want to say that they play favorites (at Villanova), but the coaches seemed to have other people in mind and I wasn’t a part of it. I needed a change. And I wanted to play."
He likes to block shots, he’s physical, and he doesn’t back down. How well these skills all come together for Pelle will no doubt determine the course of the Bulldogs this season and next.
"It all depends on how good Anthony wants to become," Saia said. "He has tremendous potential. I think the others respect him knowing that he could be our solid big guy in the middle."
The ’Dogs will look forward to the battles in practive between Pelle and the incumbent big man, Lee Mayberry.
Said Colson, "He will raise our practice tempo and upgrade the competition between players. This is a big move. This shows that we are taking bigger steps to bring in better players."
Mayberry is a senior and will graduate this year. So is Pelle ready?
"That’s the time when Anthony will step in and fill (Mayberry’s) shoes and take us to another level," Colson said.
The next level has to arrive soon for impatient ’Dog followers. FSU has had three losing seasons in a row under Colson. In 1990-91, the ’Dogs went 14-16. The 1991-92 season saw FSU finish 15-16. In 1992-93, FSU was never able to get untracked as they ended the season at 13-14 in their inaugural WAC season.
Pelle said he knows the ’Dog faithful are counting on him to be a savior, but he downplays it.
"This year, I’m not going to do much that people can see on the court," he said. "I’m just going to work hard and play. I know people are expecting things from me, but I’m just going to go out and play."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Twas the dawn of the 1993-94 season and the ’Dogs were stirring. But no one had a grim outlook, not even Gary Colson.
Visions of a Bulldog juggernaut have been dancing in the heads of long-suffering FSU basketball fans.
Dear St. Nick, they said. You were supposed to bring us a big man.
And that big man has arrived in a seven-foot, 260-pouind package. Could Anthony Pelle be the big man that Bulldog basketball has long awaited?
Pelle, a senior transfer from Villanova, plans to make the biggest impact on FSU roundball in years. He has all the skills a big man could want--size, speed, quickness and a mean streak to match. He is also a true seven-footer.
"This year, I hope everybody plays and works together," Pelle said. "Next year, it’s gonna be fun."
Next year is when Pelle will be in action. As a player with three years already under his belt by arriving at FSU, he must meet NCAA requirements and sit out this year as a redshirt.
That’s the only negative for FSU fans. But when he does come back the next year, he will have already made the Bulldogs stronger.
Colson can’t be faulted for treating Pelle like the concealed weapon he is. This season, Pelle will practice with the squad although he will not appear on the active roster or play in any games.
"Sure, he will make an impact," Colson said. "By practicing against him every day, we’ll learn his killer instinct. He’s had experience playing against the cutthroat Big East opponents like Mutombo and Mourning."
Mutombo is now with the Denver Nuggets and Alonzo Mourning was a rookie last year with the Charlotte Hornets.
"He will definitely help us in practice," Colson continued. "He has the possibility to be the best big man we have had here."
Assistant Jim Saia said the key to Pelle’s development will be his training this season.
"He’s got two years to do it," Saia said. "This season, he has to get in shape and be ready to play in our system. Off the court, he looks like a talent. But he’s got to produce and show results, and do it on the floor."
Pelle has no problem with that.
"I just want to go out and play," he said bluntly. "I don’t want to miss any time."
As bright a prospect as he looks for FSU, it comes with a shock that he was riding the bench at Villanova. It was suspected that he left the Wildcat program over playing time disputes.
"I wasn’t getting any playing time," said Pelle. "Not a little bit, not that it wasn’t what I wanted. I just wasn’t getting any."
"I don’t want to say that they play favorites (at Villanova), but the coaches seemed to have other people in mind and I wasn’t a part of it. I needed a change. And I wanted to play."
He likes to block shots, he’s physical, and he doesn’t back down. How well these skills all come together for Pelle will no doubt determine the course of the Bulldogs this season and next.
"It all depends on how good Anthony wants to become," Saia said. "He has tremendous potential. I think the others respect him knowing that he could be our solid big guy in the middle."
The ’Dogs will look forward to the battles in practive between Pelle and the incumbent big man, Lee Mayberry.
Said Colson, "He will raise our practice tempo and upgrade the competition between players. This is a big move. This shows that we are taking bigger steps to bring in better players."
Mayberry is a senior and will graduate this year. So is Pelle ready?
"That’s the time when Anthony will step in and fill (Mayberry’s) shoes and take us to another level," Colson said.
The next level has to arrive soon for impatient ’Dog followers. FSU has had three losing seasons in a row under Colson. In 1990-91, the ’Dogs went 14-16. The 1991-92 season saw FSU finish 15-16. In 1992-93, FSU was never able to get untracked as they ended the season at 13-14 in their inaugural WAC season.
Pelle said he knows the ’Dog faithful are counting on him to be a savior, but he downplays it.
"This year, I’m not going to do much that people can see on the court," he said. "I’m just going to work hard and play. I know people are expecting things from me, but I’m just going to go out and play."
Cowboys back; still won't repeat
October 5, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Dallas, Dallas, Dallas. Everybody wants to get a hold on the Cowboys these days. They became the most talked about team in the NFL last year and many people thought they would be to the 1990s what the 49ers were to the 80s and Pittsburgh was to the 70s.
Now that the Cowboys have been in the post-Super Bowl slump that strikes all great teams, I’m saying "I told you so."
Some people think that I, along with many others, was leaning heavily toward Dallas when this season started. Then running back Emmitt Smith didn’t show up until the damage was done. The Cowboys went 0-2 against Washington and Buffalo while Smith was still holding out.
Then the Dallas rooters claimed that I was jumping off the Cowboys when they hit the losing streak.
And then--what a shock--just two days after I spoke a piece of my mind, Smith has a new contract and shows up. The Cowboys stage a turnaround to "improve" to 2-2.
I guess now, in the words of several esteemed Dallas fans, I am supposed to change my mind and jump back on the Cowboys wagon sometime soon.
But still I say: no repeat.
Even if the Cowboys were to somehow reclaim the magic from 1992 (which won’t happen) and go 14-2, they still would not be the same championship team a year ago.
To win a Super Bowl takes painstakingly hard work, talent, determination, and coaching with maybe a little luck thrown in. To win it for the second straight year would take all those ingredients and one more: razor-thin tunnel vision.
For Dallas to have internal problems now, with the Smith chapter endured, would almost certainly destroy any hopes they have of going back-to-back. The pursuit of motivation (or lack thereof) that they displayed in their first two weeks will certainly derail them.
And the lack of motivation they have shown will no doubt keep them from a second Super season. The one criteria has eliminated them, and that is their drive to succeed. Turbulence in the front office and off-the-field controversy makes winning impossible in this day and age.
Washington treated their Cowboys contest like it was Super Bowl 27.5. Buffalo went into Dallas a week later and marked "Super Bowl 28" on their game plans. And it goes on and on. That will be the goal of every Dallas opponent this season: derail the champion.
A lot of teams would like no better opponent to kick around this year than the Cowboys, when you note their history as being a cocky team that expects to win even when it is no longer realistic. The Redskins are Dallas’ main rivals and the Bills just got hammered last year in the Super Bowl. Again, motivation, which Dallas has lost.
Those two teams have set the tone for the others on Dallas’ schedule: The Cowboys are still and elite championship team but they are not unbeatable. They can be had.
I would like to point out one other thing: Where were all the Cowboy rooters back in 1989? Someone I knew used to wear a Cowboys jacket to school every day. Midway through the losing streak, he burned it ceremoniously.
Now I say the Cowboys are a great team, but it strikes me as funny that I have seen Dallas fans pop out of the woodwork for the first time in 15 years. Central California is supposed to be home to the 49ers, Raiders, Rams and Chargers. When did the Cowboys announce their move out to sunny Calif? Did I miss something?
I believe in true loyalty to a team no matter what. I don’t know about the rest of you but only one team has won my heart: the Raiders. And, God knows, I’ve been just about ready to give up on them. But I remain true to the Silver and Black, through thick and mostly thin these days.
That’s something all the newly made Cowboy followers should take note. Let’s see what happens now that their backs are to the wall, but I won’t change my opinion regardless. No one else should, either.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Dallas, Dallas, Dallas. Everybody wants to get a hold on the Cowboys these days. They became the most talked about team in the NFL last year and many people thought they would be to the 1990s what the 49ers were to the 80s and Pittsburgh was to the 70s.
Now that the Cowboys have been in the post-Super Bowl slump that strikes all great teams, I’m saying "I told you so."
Some people think that I, along with many others, was leaning heavily toward Dallas when this season started. Then running back Emmitt Smith didn’t show up until the damage was done. The Cowboys went 0-2 against Washington and Buffalo while Smith was still holding out.
Then the Dallas rooters claimed that I was jumping off the Cowboys when they hit the losing streak.
And then--what a shock--just two days after I spoke a piece of my mind, Smith has a new contract and shows up. The Cowboys stage a turnaround to "improve" to 2-2.
I guess now, in the words of several esteemed Dallas fans, I am supposed to change my mind and jump back on the Cowboys wagon sometime soon.
But still I say: no repeat.
Even if the Cowboys were to somehow reclaim the magic from 1992 (which won’t happen) and go 14-2, they still would not be the same championship team a year ago.
To win a Super Bowl takes painstakingly hard work, talent, determination, and coaching with maybe a little luck thrown in. To win it for the second straight year would take all those ingredients and one more: razor-thin tunnel vision.
For Dallas to have internal problems now, with the Smith chapter endured, would almost certainly destroy any hopes they have of going back-to-back. The pursuit of motivation (or lack thereof) that they displayed in their first two weeks will certainly derail them.
And the lack of motivation they have shown will no doubt keep them from a second Super season. The one criteria has eliminated them, and that is their drive to succeed. Turbulence in the front office and off-the-field controversy makes winning impossible in this day and age.
Washington treated their Cowboys contest like it was Super Bowl 27.5. Buffalo went into Dallas a week later and marked "Super Bowl 28" on their game plans. And it goes on and on. That will be the goal of every Dallas opponent this season: derail the champion.
A lot of teams would like no better opponent to kick around this year than the Cowboys, when you note their history as being a cocky team that expects to win even when it is no longer realistic. The Redskins are Dallas’ main rivals and the Bills just got hammered last year in the Super Bowl. Again, motivation, which Dallas has lost.
Those two teams have set the tone for the others on Dallas’ schedule: The Cowboys are still and elite championship team but they are not unbeatable. They can be had.
I would like to point out one other thing: Where were all the Cowboy rooters back in 1989? Someone I knew used to wear a Cowboys jacket to school every day. Midway through the losing streak, he burned it ceremoniously.
Now I say the Cowboys are a great team, but it strikes me as funny that I have seen Dallas fans pop out of the woodwork for the first time in 15 years. Central California is supposed to be home to the 49ers, Raiders, Rams and Chargers. When did the Cowboys announce their move out to sunny Calif? Did I miss something?
I believe in true loyalty to a team no matter what. I don’t know about the rest of you but only one team has won my heart: the Raiders. And, God knows, I’ve been just about ready to give up on them. But I remain true to the Silver and Black, through thick and mostly thin these days.
That’s something all the newly made Cowboy followers should take note. Let’s see what happens now that their backs are to the wall, but I won’t change my opinion regardless. No one else should, either.
Huber waits for her chance
September 28, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Picture this: You come from a high school where you were a superstar--or at least well-known. Now you enter college, where everyone is a star and you have to adjust to sitting on the bench.
Annette Huber comes from a house with eight other siblings. When you’re in a situation like that, you just have to be a born competitor.
Huber, a backup setter for the volleyball team, displays competitive instinct and toughness that the FSU brass desperately craved. Late last summer, assistant coach Joey Vrazel saw Huber at a camp tournament and was instantly impressed.
"She struck me," Vrazel said. "I saw in her, a great worker, with great hands. She said she was going to BYU and would probably not play. I thought ’that’s a shame because she should play. So, I set about recruiting her."
"The coaching staff and the program is what made me choose Fresno State," Huber said. "As a team, we look really good and have a lot of potential. We are improving every day."
Huber, however, is in a tough spot. She’s backing up Brenda Gregersen at center. Gregersen was the WAC Freshman of the Year in 1992, pacing the ’Dogs to an 11-3 record in league play.
With Gregersen playing as well as ever at the setter spot, prospects may look dim for Huber to get much playing time in the next three seasons.
"I knew that coming in," Huber says. "I knew that this year, Brenda was going to be depended on. But I have someone to really push me to do better now. In that sense, I have somebody to learn from."
Vrazel says that Huber may not instantly make an impact, but she does where there is no bench--on the practice court.
"There are things Ann can bring to the team that can make the difference," she said. "She sees that she needs time. This year, she needs to develop and know the offense. It’s very hard for a setter to get in that rhythym right away. But she does plan on competing for that position very soon."
In any sport, players can count on their practices being much tougher than an actual game. It’s a fact that a team’s backups will fight the starters at least twice as hard as their opponents.
Vrazel played volleyball at Texas A&M and knows how rough it can be getting pushed by the practice squad.
"They want to show that they can play," Vrazel said. "And what Annette does in practice is invaluable to us. She’s leading the second team in practice. Also, nobody on this team thinks they’re a backup. Everybody is going to at least contribute, whether they start and play a lot or not."
Huber may be sitting on the bench right now, but she knows her time will come soon.
And it may already have. Gregersen, who missed the first nine matches last year due to a back injury, has had some nagging injuries this year as well, despite a great start. In the Alumni match, Huber got some playing time and played well despite the Bulldogs’ loss.
"I’m going to have limited playing time, but they (the coaches) work with me a lot," says Huber. "I get a lot of work during practice to show what I can do. So it’s not like I don’t get a shot."
Huber also gets plenty of reps before matches.
It is likely that Gregersen will return for three more years and Huber will be on the outside looking in. But she remains optimistic. "When I improve, I’ll get my chance," she says.
Vrazel adds, "She is a team oriented player, which all setters have to be. I think she’ll be a contributor. And she’s a competitor, she just goes out and plays."
"On this team, she is probably among those with the lease experience.
"But you’d never know it. The thing that stands out about her is that she always gives excellent effort."
It seems that Huber is following the golden rule of players waiting to crack the starting lineup: Be prepared, because you have to be ready to play even when it doesn’t look good. You don’t want to be caught in a situation where you get your shot and you don’t work hard enough to keep it.
"There’s no way I wouldn’t be ready," says Huber. "They work me too hard to let them down."
At Meridian High School in Idaho, Huber earned first-team All-Southern Idaho Conference and All-State honorable mention awards as a senior. She also earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award.
"It’s quicker (in Division I), but it’s an adjustment that I have to make," says Huber.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Picture this: You come from a high school where you were a superstar--or at least well-known. Now you enter college, where everyone is a star and you have to adjust to sitting on the bench.
Annette Huber comes from a house with eight other siblings. When you’re in a situation like that, you just have to be a born competitor.
Huber, a backup setter for the volleyball team, displays competitive instinct and toughness that the FSU brass desperately craved. Late last summer, assistant coach Joey Vrazel saw Huber at a camp tournament and was instantly impressed.
"She struck me," Vrazel said. "I saw in her, a great worker, with great hands. She said she was going to BYU and would probably not play. I thought ’that’s a shame because she should play. So, I set about recruiting her."
"The coaching staff and the program is what made me choose Fresno State," Huber said. "As a team, we look really good and have a lot of potential. We are improving every day."
Huber, however, is in a tough spot. She’s backing up Brenda Gregersen at center. Gregersen was the WAC Freshman of the Year in 1992, pacing the ’Dogs to an 11-3 record in league play.
With Gregersen playing as well as ever at the setter spot, prospects may look dim for Huber to get much playing time in the next three seasons.
"I knew that coming in," Huber says. "I knew that this year, Brenda was going to be depended on. But I have someone to really push me to do better now. In that sense, I have somebody to learn from."
Vrazel says that Huber may not instantly make an impact, but she does where there is no bench--on the practice court.
"There are things Ann can bring to the team that can make the difference," she said. "She sees that she needs time. This year, she needs to develop and know the offense. It’s very hard for a setter to get in that rhythym right away. But she does plan on competing for that position very soon."
In any sport, players can count on their practices being much tougher than an actual game. It’s a fact that a team’s backups will fight the starters at least twice as hard as their opponents.
Vrazel played volleyball at Texas A&M and knows how rough it can be getting pushed by the practice squad.
"They want to show that they can play," Vrazel said. "And what Annette does in practice is invaluable to us. She’s leading the second team in practice. Also, nobody on this team thinks they’re a backup. Everybody is going to at least contribute, whether they start and play a lot or not."
Huber may be sitting on the bench right now, but she knows her time will come soon.
And it may already have. Gregersen, who missed the first nine matches last year due to a back injury, has had some nagging injuries this year as well, despite a great start. In the Alumni match, Huber got some playing time and played well despite the Bulldogs’ loss.
"I’m going to have limited playing time, but they (the coaches) work with me a lot," says Huber. "I get a lot of work during practice to show what I can do. So it’s not like I don’t get a shot."
Huber also gets plenty of reps before matches.
It is likely that Gregersen will return for three more years and Huber will be on the outside looking in. But she remains optimistic. "When I improve, I’ll get my chance," she says.
Vrazel adds, "She is a team oriented player, which all setters have to be. I think she’ll be a contributor. And she’s a competitor, she just goes out and plays."
"On this team, she is probably among those with the lease experience.
"But you’d never know it. The thing that stands out about her is that she always gives excellent effort."
It seems that Huber is following the golden rule of players waiting to crack the starting lineup: Be prepared, because you have to be ready to play even when it doesn’t look good. You don’t want to be caught in a situation where you get your shot and you don’t work hard enough to keep it.
"There’s no way I wouldn’t be ready," says Huber. "They work me too hard to let them down."
At Meridian High School in Idaho, Huber earned first-team All-Southern Idaho Conference and All-State honorable mention awards as a senior. She also earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award.
"It’s quicker (in Division I), but it’s an adjustment that I have to make," says Huber.
Martinez excells at offense
September 21, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Fresno State soccer has made a smash hit this season, especially in the scoreboard department. Because of that, the ’Dogs are 5-1 and off to their best start since 1987, with designs on returning to the postseason.
Along with many other Bulldog names, such as David Kramer and Sterling Wescott, Donovan Martinez has certainly done his part to carry the scoring resurrection for FSU.
Martinez put on an offensive show this past weekend as the Bulldogs crushed Loyola Marymount 7-0 and edged San Francisco 5-4. He compiled his first career hat trick against LMU to raise his 1993 point total to 15 on seven goals and one assist. For each goal, a player receives two points and one point for each assist.
"I am very confident in what I am producing," says Martinez, a 5’8", 165-lb. forward who is in his senior season and is looking to end his FSU career by putting together a solid year. "I was pretty excited (about the hat trick)."
"I feel that in any given game I can score. I think the reason for that is because the team has improved its’ play this year. The team defense and midfield is doing the work to put me in good positions to score. Teamwork is getting us points."
A backup through most of his previous three seasons, Martinez was known as a key contributor off the bench until this year. In 1992, he had 10 points on four goals and two assists, then a career high. The 1991 season saw him struggle to get in a groove due to injuries.
"His job is to score goals, and he knows that," says head coach John Bluem. Against LMU, he was very sharp that night. He pulled a groin muscle in that game, however. He started against San Francisco, but it was obvious he couldn’t cut it, so his playing time was reduced. Hopefully, he can play on it and it won’t hurt him for too long."
Martinez, attributed the team’s start this season to--what else, but teamwork.
"Everybody on this team gets along. We are on the same page. The main goal is to contribute to strive, because we haven’t accomplished anything yet. The good start is a good indicator, but we aren’t satisfied. We’re still lstriving to keep this up, because there won’t be a letdown."
Martinez has an answer to the surprise over the ’Dogs scoring this season. Last year, FSU scored only 29 goals, their lowest in 16 years.
"Because we’re stronger this year. We do our job by stopping people and then setting up our forwards in good situations. When we do that well, we can’t help but put the ball where we need it most--in the back of the net."
Did the teamwork and play that has sparked the Bulldogs play this year exist last season?
Martinez--and coach Bluem--will give an emphatic no.
Martinez says: "We were not on the same page and too many people were trying to be individuals. As a team, we were out of sync. We just weren’t together at any point last year."
He adds: "We were dominating teams, but just weren’t putting them away." He cites a crushing home loss to Air Force in which the ’Dogs had led 2-0 before losing by one goal in the closing seconds, 3-2.
"I couldn’t believe it," he says.
Bluem says: "Goal scoring takes skill. It’s part timing and part mental. How we struggled in ’92 was a mental drought to score goals. We would lose close games despite all but stopping the other team, and after a while it was "Hey, we just can’t score."
"That snowballed, and then it became harder and harder just to get ourselves in a position to score," Bluem adds.
"This year’s team has a tremendous attitude. We are confident that we can score, so we put people away."
Martinez is "very confident" about today’s match with UC Santa Barbara.
He says that while the Bulldogs beat rival San Francisco, he shares a team sentiment that it was not pretty.
FSU took a 5-1 lead in that game before a late USF rally closed it to 5-4.
"We let them back in the game, because we let up. Maybe we thought we had it too good (with the big lead) and we got too cocky," he says.
The Bulldogs ended last year with a 12-5-1 record, but not good enough to get them to the postseason.
"In three of our losses, I felt that we were the better team and deserved to win," Bluem says. "We outplayed people, but couldn’t score. This year, we have a tremendous motivation factor. Our concentration and effort have improved, and we’re not gonna let games slip away.
"This is a team that is determined to go back to the postseason, and I think this is the team that is going to do it. And Martinez will be one of the reasons," says Bluem.
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Fresno State soccer has made a smash hit this season, especially in the scoreboard department. Because of that, the ’Dogs are 5-1 and off to their best start since 1987, with designs on returning to the postseason.
Along with many other Bulldog names, such as David Kramer and Sterling Wescott, Donovan Martinez has certainly done his part to carry the scoring resurrection for FSU.
Martinez put on an offensive show this past weekend as the Bulldogs crushed Loyola Marymount 7-0 and edged San Francisco 5-4. He compiled his first career hat trick against LMU to raise his 1993 point total to 15 on seven goals and one assist. For each goal, a player receives two points and one point for each assist.
"I am very confident in what I am producing," says Martinez, a 5’8", 165-lb. forward who is in his senior season and is looking to end his FSU career by putting together a solid year. "I was pretty excited (about the hat trick)."
"I feel that in any given game I can score. I think the reason for that is because the team has improved its’ play this year. The team defense and midfield is doing the work to put me in good positions to score. Teamwork is getting us points."
A backup through most of his previous three seasons, Martinez was known as a key contributor off the bench until this year. In 1992, he had 10 points on four goals and two assists, then a career high. The 1991 season saw him struggle to get in a groove due to injuries.
"His job is to score goals, and he knows that," says head coach John Bluem. Against LMU, he was very sharp that night. He pulled a groin muscle in that game, however. He started against San Francisco, but it was obvious he couldn’t cut it, so his playing time was reduced. Hopefully, he can play on it and it won’t hurt him for too long."
Martinez, attributed the team’s start this season to--what else, but teamwork.
"Everybody on this team gets along. We are on the same page. The main goal is to contribute to strive, because we haven’t accomplished anything yet. The good start is a good indicator, but we aren’t satisfied. We’re still lstriving to keep this up, because there won’t be a letdown."
Martinez has an answer to the surprise over the ’Dogs scoring this season. Last year, FSU scored only 29 goals, their lowest in 16 years.
"Because we’re stronger this year. We do our job by stopping people and then setting up our forwards in good situations. When we do that well, we can’t help but put the ball where we need it most--in the back of the net."
Did the teamwork and play that has sparked the Bulldogs play this year exist last season?
Martinez--and coach Bluem--will give an emphatic no.
Martinez says: "We were not on the same page and too many people were trying to be individuals. As a team, we were out of sync. We just weren’t together at any point last year."
He adds: "We were dominating teams, but just weren’t putting them away." He cites a crushing home loss to Air Force in which the ’Dogs had led 2-0 before losing by one goal in the closing seconds, 3-2.
"I couldn’t believe it," he says.
Bluem says: "Goal scoring takes skill. It’s part timing and part mental. How we struggled in ’92 was a mental drought to score goals. We would lose close games despite all but stopping the other team, and after a while it was "Hey, we just can’t score."
"That snowballed, and then it became harder and harder just to get ourselves in a position to score," Bluem adds.
"This year’s team has a tremendous attitude. We are confident that we can score, so we put people away."
Martinez is "very confident" about today’s match with UC Santa Barbara.
He says that while the Bulldogs beat rival San Francisco, he shares a team sentiment that it was not pretty.
FSU took a 5-1 lead in that game before a late USF rally closed it to 5-4.
"We let them back in the game, because we let up. Maybe we thought we had it too good (with the big lead) and we got too cocky," he says.
The Bulldogs ended last year with a 12-5-1 record, but not good enough to get them to the postseason.
"In three of our losses, I felt that we were the better team and deserved to win," Bluem says. "We outplayed people, but couldn’t score. This year, we have a tremendous motivation factor. Our concentration and effort have improved, and we’re not gonna let games slip away.
"This is a team that is determined to go back to the postseason, and I think this is the team that is going to do it. And Martinez will be one of the reasons," says Bluem.
No repeat for Dallas
September 16, 1993
Originally published in The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Dynasty is defined in the dictionary as a succession of rulers from the same power or line or a family or group that maintains power for several generations.
Some people thought Dallas would be the new NFL dynasty.
However, the Cowboys will not repeat this year.
The reasons? First, Emmitt Smith will not be seen in silver and blue this year. Second, it’s next to impossible to keep up the hunger two years in a row in this day and age. Jerry Jones is screwing the Cowboys bid for "Return to Glory II" is the third reason.
Fourth, put the Cowboys plan to be the best in the ’90’s on hold. There won’t be a team of the ’90’s--not if the criteria is winning four Super Bowls. There are no dynasties anymore.
Jerry Jones, when a man is your whole offense and has brought back your team from a laughingstock in four years, when this man leads the league in rushing two years in a row and gives you a Super Bowl ring, you do what you have to do.
Do what you can to get him back in your hands. Give him what he wants. The Cowboys are 20-something and oh when Smith gets a hundred yards in a game. So obviously he means something to Dallas.
Too bad Jones won’t see it that way. You see, running a pro football team just got tougher. The salary cap dawns next season and the free agent parade began this spring. Jones’ case is that if he gives Smith the deal, he’s blood for the sharks next year when the other young stars come around to get paid.
But Emmitt Smith is the Cowboys. He is the man which the offense is built around. The others can go but Emmitt Smith stays. And he deserves it. It’s simple as that.
The Cowboys looked dead to the world in Washington the previous Monday night. Against the Bills last week, they scored 10 points. Nine months ago, they put up 52 versus this same team in a Super blowout.
Dallas will be back, but not in 1993. Jones will not come to a deal with Smith because he undervalues and underestimates Smith’s role in Dallas. So, Smith won’t put on the silver and blue, and Dallas won’t be the team they were a year ago.
It’s evident that they’ve lost their hunger that marked their rise to the top. Now they will lose the man who is the Cowboys.
Make the team of the ’90’s the corporate slobs, free agents jumping towns right and left. It’s a money game in the ’90’s, and it’s spread too thin for one team to dominate.
Pittsburgh dominated the NFL for a number of seasons back when I was too young to pay any attention. The Steelers has the guts, and their players had pride in the organization, which you don’t see anymore.
San Francisco was on top for a decade.
The 49ers had it in the ’80s because they were the only ones spending the money. Welcome to the brave new world, Dallas. Every team you play will act like it’s the Super Bowl. And you’re 0-2 already.
Originally published in The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
Dynasty is defined in the dictionary as a succession of rulers from the same power or line or a family or group that maintains power for several generations.
Some people thought Dallas would be the new NFL dynasty.
However, the Cowboys will not repeat this year.
The reasons? First, Emmitt Smith will not be seen in silver and blue this year. Second, it’s next to impossible to keep up the hunger two years in a row in this day and age. Jerry Jones is screwing the Cowboys bid for "Return to Glory II" is the third reason.
Fourth, put the Cowboys plan to be the best in the ’90’s on hold. There won’t be a team of the ’90’s--not if the criteria is winning four Super Bowls. There are no dynasties anymore.
Jerry Jones, when a man is your whole offense and has brought back your team from a laughingstock in four years, when this man leads the league in rushing two years in a row and gives you a Super Bowl ring, you do what you have to do.
Do what you can to get him back in your hands. Give him what he wants. The Cowboys are 20-something and oh when Smith gets a hundred yards in a game. So obviously he means something to Dallas.
Too bad Jones won’t see it that way. You see, running a pro football team just got tougher. The salary cap dawns next season and the free agent parade began this spring. Jones’ case is that if he gives Smith the deal, he’s blood for the sharks next year when the other young stars come around to get paid.
But Emmitt Smith is the Cowboys. He is the man which the offense is built around. The others can go but Emmitt Smith stays. And he deserves it. It’s simple as that.
The Cowboys looked dead to the world in Washington the previous Monday night. Against the Bills last week, they scored 10 points. Nine months ago, they put up 52 versus this same team in a Super blowout.
Dallas will be back, but not in 1993. Jones will not come to a deal with Smith because he undervalues and underestimates Smith’s role in Dallas. So, Smith won’t put on the silver and blue, and Dallas won’t be the team they were a year ago.
It’s evident that they’ve lost their hunger that marked their rise to the top. Now they will lose the man who is the Cowboys.
Make the team of the ’90’s the corporate slobs, free agents jumping towns right and left. It’s a money game in the ’90’s, and it’s spread too thin for one team to dominate.
Pittsburgh dominated the NFL for a number of seasons back when I was too young to pay any attention. The Steelers has the guts, and their players had pride in the organization, which you don’t see anymore.
San Francisco was on top for a decade.
The 49ers had it in the ’80s because they were the only ones spending the money. Welcome to the brave new world, Dallas. Every team you play will act like it’s the Super Bowl. And you’re 0-2 already.
Righter looked upon to lead
September 14, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The responsibility of being a returning veteran on a relatively young team is an unenviable task in most any sport. The elder has to take on this task by setting the standard for the team. This person has to get there early, leave late and set the example, even when least desired. Such is true "team above self."
Because if this person doesn’t, no one will do it. And, it’s very likely that someone will do it. That does not bode well for the team.
The responsibility for the 1993 Bulldog women’s track team goes to Noelle Righter. She was named team co-captain last week along with Ann Burris.
Righter is one of three seniors to return. Burris and Christine Ganger join Righter.
A large majority of the FSU cross country team’s careers have barely been unwrapped.
"I think that I can help (the young group) by giving them sound advice on what to expect in track at this level," says Righter, a 5’6", 123 lb. runner in her third FSU year. "What we’ll experience, what we’ll encounter, and the competition (at Division I) is not easy to get used to. I’ll give them encouragement and let them know what’s coming. I’ll try to keep their heads up when they get down."
That might occur with regularity this season, given the prospects that the Bulldogs have been given in the WAC. A team that has the least proven talent is usuall given the least chance to survive in a dog-eat-dog competition.
"Noelle’s ability to provide leadership can spark our young people, and will be the key to improving," says head coach Red Estes.
Estes says Righter can return from last year’s injury-plagued season and a wiped-out 1991.
"She’s stayed injury-free so far this year and she’s well in tune with her body--knowing what she can do and can’t do. Noelle should have a pretty good year."
"She’s doing a good job keeping the team together and keeping them in a pack," Estes adds.
Righter says the closeness of this team is something that should help the Bulldogs in ’93.
"If our team is bonded and we keep pushing each other, we can move up," she said.
Last weekend, Righter placed 23rd as FSU ran the Jammin’ Cross Country Invitational. That was good enough to break the tape at 19:30 and be the Bulldogs’ No. 5 runner.
"Running together is what we tried to do," says Righter. "We were more conservative and helped our slower runners be more aggressive. A lot of our runners placed higher in the race than they would if we didn’t run as a team."
"If you’re getting 18-19 minute times this early in the season, you’re doing a pretty reasonable showing," Righter says.
Righter also wants to tell those who are painting a bleak picture for FSU cross country this season: We aren’t slouches.
"We may be young and inexperienced, but there’s no rule that says we can’t at least be competitive. This hasn’t been a rebuilding year. We’re surpassing that."
Says Estes: "Her role on this team is to be a tough leader, take the pressure and make sure her teammates thrive. And we’re seeing that she has responded. People are relying on her to do that."
The top four women’s runners last year--Dina Farage, Eva Belt, Evelyn Martino, and Shannon Lieder--have all graduated, which leaves Righter as a rock of stability.
"I feel lucky this year that I haven’t had any problems. I’m being conservative enough to save my legs at times. Experience just tells you when to ease up and when to push yourself," says Righter.
Righter has one season of track remaining, but this will be her final cross country season.
"I hope to make it my best," Righter says. "I’ll miss it next year, and I’ll try to stick around."
"I’ve had my ups and downs," says Righter. "But I’m glad I got the chance to run Division I competition."
"I’ve learned that there’s a lot more important things than winning. Dealing with disapointment and struggle are skills that will help me down the road."
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)
The responsibility of being a returning veteran on a relatively young team is an unenviable task in most any sport. The elder has to take on this task by setting the standard for the team. This person has to get there early, leave late and set the example, even when least desired. Such is true "team above self."
Because if this person doesn’t, no one will do it. And, it’s very likely that someone will do it. That does not bode well for the team.
The responsibility for the 1993 Bulldog women’s track team goes to Noelle Righter. She was named team co-captain last week along with Ann Burris.
Righter is one of three seniors to return. Burris and Christine Ganger join Righter.
A large majority of the FSU cross country team’s careers have barely been unwrapped.
"I think that I can help (the young group) by giving them sound advice on what to expect in track at this level," says Righter, a 5’6", 123 lb. runner in her third FSU year. "What we’ll experience, what we’ll encounter, and the competition (at Division I) is not easy to get used to. I’ll give them encouragement and let them know what’s coming. I’ll try to keep their heads up when they get down."
That might occur with regularity this season, given the prospects that the Bulldogs have been given in the WAC. A team that has the least proven talent is usuall given the least chance to survive in a dog-eat-dog competition.
"Noelle’s ability to provide leadership can spark our young people, and will be the key to improving," says head coach Red Estes.
Estes says Righter can return from last year’s injury-plagued season and a wiped-out 1991.
"She’s stayed injury-free so far this year and she’s well in tune with her body--knowing what she can do and can’t do. Noelle should have a pretty good year."
"She’s doing a good job keeping the team together and keeping them in a pack," Estes adds.
Righter says the closeness of this team is something that should help the Bulldogs in ’93.
"If our team is bonded and we keep pushing each other, we can move up," she said.
Last weekend, Righter placed 23rd as FSU ran the Jammin’ Cross Country Invitational. That was good enough to break the tape at 19:30 and be the Bulldogs’ No. 5 runner.
"Running together is what we tried to do," says Righter. "We were more conservative and helped our slower runners be more aggressive. A lot of our runners placed higher in the race than they would if we didn’t run as a team."
"If you’re getting 18-19 minute times this early in the season, you’re doing a pretty reasonable showing," Righter says.
Righter also wants to tell those who are painting a bleak picture for FSU cross country this season: We aren’t slouches.
"We may be young and inexperienced, but there’s no rule that says we can’t at least be competitive. This hasn’t been a rebuilding year. We’re surpassing that."
Says Estes: "Her role on this team is to be a tough leader, take the pressure and make sure her teammates thrive. And we’re seeing that she has responded. People are relying on her to do that."
The top four women’s runners last year--Dina Farage, Eva Belt, Evelyn Martino, and Shannon Lieder--have all graduated, which leaves Righter as a rock of stability.
"I feel lucky this year that I haven’t had any problems. I’m being conservative enough to save my legs at times. Experience just tells you when to ease up and when to push yourself," says Righter.
Righter has one season of track remaining, but this will be her final cross country season.
"I hope to make it my best," Righter says. "I’ll miss it next year, and I’ll try to stick around."
"I’ve had my ups and downs," says Righter. "But I’m glad I got the chance to run Division I competition."
"I’ve learned that there’s a lot more important things than winning. Dealing with disapointment and struggle are skills that will help me down the road."
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